It never rains but pours for Kwekwe City Council following reports the local authority has been sued by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) over a $2 488 550,57 million debt.
Recently, the council was taken to task by residents for alleged corruption and is currently locked in a bitter wrangle with former treasurer Albert Zingwe who has since resumed his duties despite objections by the former.
Zesa’s lawyer, Cletus Masawi, has since written a letter of demand to town clerk Emanuel Musara.
Part of the letter, dated September 16, reads: “We act on behalf of ZETDC (Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company), we are advised that as at September 14, 2011 council owes our client the sum of $2 488 550, 57 and despite demand, you have not made any efforts for settlement. Please pay $2 812 00, 00 inclusive of legal costs and collection commission within seven days of receipt of this letter or we will proceed by ways of summons.”
Masawi told NewsDay his client was already proceeding by way of summons against council with the view of attaching council property since Musara had failed to respond to the letter of demand within the prescribed period.
“They have not responded to the demands and have even failed to offer a payment plan to our client. We are therefore left with no option but to approach the High Court so that we can register the debt and attach property,” said Masawi.
Council’s finance committee chairperson, Councillor Queenly Chitopo, said she was not aware of the development.
“The committee is supposed to sit and deliberate on these issues, but we have not held a single meeting for the past three months. We are therefore not aware of the move by Zesa and neither do we have a plan for solving the problem outside a meeting,” Chitopo said.
