Harare mayor Muchadeyi Masunda yesterday said he had taken a leaf from Energy and Power Development minister Elton Mangoma who exposed political bigwigs refusing to pay their Zesa bills and name society’s big fish that did not pay their rates.
“Zesa and the city, as providers of critical utility services, are clearly at the end of their respective tethers,” Masunda said.
“Naming and shaming the defaulters, especially with the elections looming in the horizon, may just be the best to make them honour their debts. In actual fact, recalcitrant debtors lack integrity and therefore render themselves ineligible to aspire to public office for the simple reason that they cannot manage their own financial affairs, never mind those of the city and or the country,” Masunda said.
There was a public outcry after Mangoma disclosed that many Cabinet ministers, legislators and senior government officials owed Zesa between $20 000 to $100 000 each in unpaid bills accumulated at their private properties and farms.
Some of the bigwigs reportedly owing huge amounts include Manicaland governor Chris Mushohwe ($145 000) and Secretary for Energy Justin Mupamhanga ($20 000).
“Minister Mangoma is a man after my own heart. There has to be a keener appreciation on the part of all Zimbabweans, especially those in positions of civic and political leadership, that there is a cost to the provision of utility services as water and electricity,” Masunda added.
