The Sunday News
Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
VICTORIA Falls Municipality has resolved to disconnect water to ratepayers with outstanding bills and take some to court as the local authority struggles to recover more than $12 million it is owed by residents and businesses.
However, the resolution made by the Finance Committee chaired by Councillor Robson Salumu has divided council and management as some feel litigating against residents will be unfair because they are facing economic challenges.
Presenting a report in a full council meeting on Tuesday, Councillor Salimu said the committee had resolved to implement a cocktail of measures including disconnecting ratepayers, starting promotional discounts, awareness campaigns, naming best payers and litigation as a last resort.
The report was received with mixed feelings by councillors and management with councillors Edmore Zhou (Ward 11) and Somveli Dlamini (Ward 9) proposing that litigation be suspended in view of the fact that residents were affected by the tough economic environment.
In an interview after the meeting, Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube said the municipality was taking rigorous action because residents were reluctant to pay.
“Let’s bear in mind that we are running a council which has expenses. People in an urban set-up are expected to pay for services and taking people to court is a last resort after failing on other methods. As a municipality we want to provide service hence we are taking rigorous actions. There are no new measures but we are improving on the traditional methods where council had stopped disconnecting residents while concentrating on commercial ratepayers but now we feel it’s necessary to review that decision. What we did was to notify council that we are going to start disconnecting residents to boost revenue,” said Mr Dube.
He said engaging debt collectors would be the last resort especially for those whose debts were for land and some unnamed ratepayers who owe up to $40 000.
“Litigation has been used but we are going to escalate it particularly for estate ratepayers. Some owe huge sums and we are now doing an inventory of all our land so we can collect all our dues. Previously, some residents have been taken to court while some cases were withdrawn after payment plans were made.
Some of the measures, Mr Dube said, would see the council offering 12 percent discounts to those who pay rates in advance, 10 percent and zero interest to those who clear debts within 90 days, door to door awareness as well as awarding those fully paid.
Mr Dube said the municipality couldn’t afford to be lenient as that might compromise service delivery.
Mayor Clr Sifiso Mpofu had earlier concurred in the meeting as he reminded fellow councillors that, “we are running a council and once people know that we are lenient they won’t pay.”
This was after Clr Zhou had proposed a reduction of rates which he said were too high for ordinary residents.
Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association chairman Mr Morgan “Gaza” Dube said it was imperative for residents to pay rates so that they get quality service.
“As much as we appreciate that rates could be high, we want to encourage residents to pay their rates and show commitment with the little that they can afford because if we don’t pay then the town may crumble and we might succumb to diseases.
Most importantly, they mustn’t be misled by populists,” he said.
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