Hwange Local Board queries Zinwa water bill

HWANGE Local Board (HLB) and residents have raised queries over the $28 million bill they received from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa).

Zinwa recently billed Hwange residents $28 million which they are expected to pay through the council, but the local authority says it suspects the bill is inflated.

HLB town secretary Ndumi Mdlalose raised the issue in a letter dated March 7 addressed to council chairperson. The latest standoff between council and Zinwa follows the disconnection of water on the bulk water meter by Zinwa to the residents of Empumalanga Phase 4 three weeks ago.

“The public is being advised that according to council records there appears to be a discrepancy, on the Zinwa bill from the bulk meter and the council bill to the concerned residents. While Zinwa’s bill is $28 million, council’s bill to the residents is $9,4 million, which is calculated from resident’s water meters. From council’s billing of $9,4 million, council has paid Zinwa $6,1 million, against receipts of $3,7 million from Empumalanga Phase 4 residents,” Mdlalose said.

“In essence residents are owing the council $2,4 million. Council is making every effort to establish the source of discrepancy between the Zinwa bill and water calculated to have been consumed by Empumalanga Phase 4 residents. That discrepancy is $18,6 million. Preliminary investigations indicate that the Zinwa bulk water meter supplying Empumalanga Phase 4 residents could be faulty, thus this could account for this discrepancy.”

The town secretary said council was supplying Empumalanga Phase 4 residents with water from a bowser while the impasse is being looked into.

• Water shortages hit Gutu-Mpandawana
• Feature: Model shift: Climate change forces Zim to finally take up irrigation
• Power cuts hit Karoi water supplies
• Fire destroys city flats

He said efforts were also being made to reconcile customer accounts to determine those owing, with a view to supply water only to those that are paid up.

“Going forward council will ensure that bulk meter water readings by Zinwa are collaborated by council’s own reading of the same. Further to that council seeks to establish the units cost of water supplied by Zinwa to council. Preliminary observations have indicated that the Zinwa bills have been increasing from month to month, whereas council’s bills to Empumalanga Phase 4 residents have not kept pace with the Zinwa bill,” he said.

“Council, therefore, needs to establish whether the discrepancy in the bills reflects underbilling by council or overbilling by Zinwa or the use of different unit cost of water by Zinwa and council in their billing. Residents are kindly advised that council is seized with this impasse and endeavouring to find a lasting solution while at the same time residents are being urged to pay for water timeously so that council can in turn meet its obligations from Zinwa.”

Mdlalose said for the time being, council would supply water through a bowser, to paid up residents, the amount would be determined by WASH standards.

Zinwa spokesperson Merjorie Munyonga said  the amount in question was a cumulative bill, inclusive of the months that HLB was not servicing its water bill.

“The local authority, which services Empumalanga Phase 4, last paid their water bill in October 2022. Their latest payment came after Zinwa recently disconnected them and fell short of settling the full amount. In addition, there have been tariff increases in November, December and January, which the local authority may have failed to effect on its clients in the concerned area,” Munyonga said.

“The HLB bulk water meter is in good working order and its figures tally with what Zinwa has rightfully billed them. Zinwa and HLB are in conversation over how the latter can retire their water debt and the engagements have been progressing quite well.”

BY SILAS NKALA

HWANGE Local Board (HLB) and residents have raised queries over the $28 million bill they received from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa).

Zinwa recently billed Hwange residents $28 million which they are expected to pay through the council, but the local authority says it suspects the bill is inflated.

HLB town secretary Ndumi Mdlalose raised the issue in a letter dated March 7 addressed to council chairperson. The latest standoff between council and Zinwa follows the disconnection of water on the bulk water meter by Zinwa to the residents of Empumalanga Phase 4 three weeks ago.

“The public is being advised that according to council records there appears to be a discrepancy, on the Zinwa bill from the bulk meter and the council bill to the concerned residents. While Zinwa’s bill is $28 million, council’s bill to the residents is $9,4 million, which is calculated from resident’s water meters. From council’s billing of $9,4 million, council has paid Zinwa $6,1 million, against receipts of $3,7 million from Empumalanga Phase 4 residents,” Mdlalose said.

“In essence residents are owing the council $2,4 million. Council is making every effort to establish the source of discrepancy between the Zinwa bill and water calculated to have been consumed by Empumalanga Phase 4 residents. That discrepancy is $18,6 million. Preliminary investigations indicate that the Zinwa bulk water meter supplying Empumalanga Phase 4 residents could be faulty, thus this could account for this discrepancy.”

The town secretary said council was supplying Empumalanga Phase 4 residents with water from a bowser while the impasse is being looked into.

He said efforts were also being made to reconcile customer accounts to determine those owing, with a view to supply water only to those that are paid up.

“Going forward council will ensure that bulk meter water readings by Zinwa are collaborated by council’s own reading of the same. Further to that council seeks to establish the units cost of water supplied by Zinwa to council. Preliminary observations have indicated that the Zinwa bills have been increasing from month to month, whereas council’s bills to Empumalanga Phase 4 residents have not kept pace with the Zinwa bill,” he said.

“Council, therefore, needs to establish whether the discrepancy in the bills reflects underbilling by council or overbilling by Zinwa or the use of different unit cost of water by Zinwa and council in their billing. Residents are kindly advised that council is seized with this impasse and endeavouring to find a lasting solution while at the same time residents are being urged to pay for water timeously so that council can in turn meet its obligations from Zinwa.”

Mdlalose said for the time being, council would supply water through a bowser, to paid up residents, the amount would be determined by WASH standards.

Zinwa spokesperson Merjorie Munyonga said  the amount in question was a cumulative bill, inclusive of the months that HLB was not servicing its water bill.

“The local authority, which services Empumalanga Phase 4, last paid their water bill in October 2022. Their latest payment came after Zinwa recently disconnected them and fell short of settling the full amount. In addition, there have been tariff increases in November, December and January, which the local authority may have failed to effect on its clients in the concerned area,” Munyonga said.

“The HLB bulk water meter is in good working order and its figures tally with what Zinwa has rightfully billed them. Zinwa and HLB are in conversation over how the latter can retire their water debt and the engagements have been progressing quite well.”

BY SILAS NKALA

HWANGE Local Board (HLB) and residents have raised queries over the $28 million bill they received from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa).

Zinwa recently billed Hwange residents $28 million which they are expected to pay through the council, but the local authority says it suspects the bill is inflated.

HLB town secretary Ndumi Mdlalose raised the issue in a letter dated March 7 addressed to council chairperson. The latest standoff between council and Zinwa follows the disconnection of water on the bulk water meter by Zinwa to the residents of Empumalanga Phase 4 three weeks ago.

“The public is being advised that according to council records there appears to be a discrepancy, on the Zinwa bill from the bulk meter and the council bill to the concerned residents. While Zinwa’s bill is $28 million, council’s bill to the residents is $9,4 million, which is calculated from resident’s water meters. From council’s billing of $9,4 million, council has paid Zinwa $6,1 million, against receipts of $3,7 million from Empumalanga Phase 4 residents,” Mdlalose said.

“In essence residents are owing the council $2,4 million. Council is making every effort to establish the source of discrepancy between the Zinwa bill and water calculated to have been consumed by Empumalanga Phase 4 residents. That discrepancy is $18,6 million. Preliminary investigations indicate that the Zinwa bulk water meter supplying Empumalanga Phase 4 residents could be faulty, thus this could account for this discrepancy.”

The town secretary said council was supplying Empumalanga Phase 4 residents with water from a bowser while the impasse is being looked into.

He said efforts were also being made to reconcile customer accounts to determine those owing, with a view to supply water only to those that are paid up.

“Going forward council will ensure that bulk meter water readings by Zinwa are collaborated by council’s own reading of the same. Further to that council seeks to establish the units cost of water supplied by Zinwa to council. Preliminary observations have indicated that the Zinwa bills have been increasing from month to month, whereas council’s bills to Empumalanga Phase 4 residents have not kept pace with the Zinwa bill,” he said.

“Council, therefore, needs to establish whether the discrepancy in the bills reflects underbilling by council or overbilling by Zinwa or the use of different unit cost of water by Zinwa and council in their billing. Residents are kindly advised that council is seized with this impasse and endeavouring to find a lasting solution while at the same time residents are being urged to pay for water timeously so that council can in turn meet its obligations from Zinwa.”

Mdlalose said for the time being, council would supply water through a bowser, to paid up residents, the amount would be determined by WASH standards.

Zinwa spokesperson Merjorie Munyonga said  the amount in question was a cumulative bill, inclusive of the months that HLB was not servicing its water bill.

“The local authority, which services Empumalanga Phase 4, last paid their water bill in October 2022. Their latest payment came after Zinwa recently disconnected them and fell short of settling the full amount. In addition, there have been tariff increases in November, December and January, which the local authority may have failed to effect on its clients in the concerned area,” Munyonga said.

“The HLB bulk water meter is in good working order and its figures tally with what Zinwa has rightfully billed them. Zinwa and HLB are in conversation over how the latter can retire their water debt and the engagements have been progressing quite well.”