Kadoma City Council is losing huge amounts in potential revenue as a result of faulty water metres according to the audit findings contained in the recently released auditor general's report.
The report also exposed the rot in the local authority, including gross mismanagement of assets and financial misconduct.
“The council had 2 541 non-functional water meters, as a result water consumers were being charged an estimated fixed rate as it was difficult to ascertain the variable element,” reads part of the report.
“The council billed 3,5 million out of the eight million litres of water produced during the year, resulting in a 56% loss of treated water.
“The percentage of water loss was above the world standard non-revenue water loss of 25%.”
The report recommended that the council should come up with strategies to reduce non-revenue water as this loss of revenue can have significant financial implications for the council.
In response, the council has committed to a series of measures aimed at rectifying these issues and improving service delivery to residents.
The council said it was committed to a programme to ensure that pumping capacity was boosted by March 31 this year.
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However, investigations carried by this publication revealed that the council was yet to fulfill its commitment.
Meanwhile, Kadoma City Council does not have an updated master plan in violation of the law, the auditor general said.
"The council did not have an updated master plan that clearly outlines the layout, land use and development of the Kadoma City Council area,” reads the report.
“This was contrary to section 20 (a) of the Regional Town and Country Planning Act [Chapter 29:12], which requires the planning authority to keep under constant examination and review factors which affect the planning area and to appropriately update the master plan.”
The council is said to have made a provision of US$150 000 for the master plan in its 2024 budget.
Standard People also established that the council completed the masterplan on time to meet the June 30 deadline for submission of master plans by all local authorities.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa ordered all 92 local authorities to come up with master plans before June 30.
The auditor general's report also raised concerns over procurement practices and inventory management in Kadoma City Council.
“Council engaged a supplier for the conversion of a truck to an ambulance at a total amount of US$22 500 through a request for quotation,” reads the report.
“This is contrary to the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Regulations, 2020 section 10(2b), which requires the procurement of goods or services above a threshold of US$10 000 to be procured through tender process.
"In addition, the council made an advance payment of US$13 500 on February 18, 2022 without a written contract and an advance payment guarantee contrary to the requirements section 18 of SI 44 of 2019 (Treasury instructions).
“The ambulance conversion had not been completed as of April 2024 and was using a pick-up open truck for maternity emergencies.”
The report also brought to the fore the council's inadequate inventory management.
It revealed that cement bags were being stored in unsuitable rooms, causing the cement to solidify.
As a result, the council lost 112 bags of cement that were purchased for the construction of Victory Park Primary School.
Kadoma residents have expressed concern over grand corruption and mismanagement at Kadoma City council as outlined in the auditor general's report.
“This thing is rotten. Poor leadership is equal to poor service delivery,” said Albert Khumalo, a resident.
“The council management is very corrupt and we are calling upon the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to intervene, maybe sanity could be restored in Kadoma.
Kadoma mayor Nigel Ruzario said the council would soon engage with residents over issues raised in the auditor general’s report.
“We will establish a dedicated task force to address the issue of non-functional water meters and revenue loss, with regular updates and progress reports to keep residents informed,” Ruzario said.
“The city envisions implementing the recommendations outlined in the auditor general's report within a reasonable timeframe, taking into account the complexity of the issues and the resources available.
“We will prioritise the most critical recommendations and work towards addressing them in a timely manner, with regular monitoring and evaluation to track progress.”
