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Kariba ordered to pay Zinwa debt

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Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese yesterday ordered Kariba Town Council to pay more than $100 000 with interest to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) for water supplied in 2009, putting to rest a three-year legal wrangle. Zinwa supplied water to the municipality for nine months, but the latter defaulted on payments, prompting […]

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Martin Makonese yesterday ordered Kariba Town Council to pay more than $100 000 with interest to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) for water supplied in 2009, putting to rest a three-year legal wrangle.

Zinwa supplied water to the municipality for nine months, but the latter defaulted on payments, prompting the water authority to approach the courts for recourse.

“It is ordered that defendant pay $103 803,49 together with interest at the prescribed rate per annum from the 1st of November to date of full payment,” ordered the judge.

After Zinwa had supplied the water, the municipality refused to pay, arguing that the parastatal did not have authority to manage, control or regulate water in Kariba Dam or Zambezi River as they constituted international waters.

“It is respectfully submitted that the evidence led on behalf of the plaintiff (Zinwa) is inadmissible for either being hearsay evidence or emanating from a witness who had no locus standi to represent the plaintiff.

“There is no agreement between the parties herein and the agreement realised upon by the plaintiff as cause of actions is inchoate (unclear),” submitted Kariba Municipality.

Zinwa is owed over $5 million by local authorities and individuals countrywide, amid revelations that some high- ranking government officials and politicians were among the biggest debtors.

Reports say some bigwigs had their debts written off due to poor recordkeeping by Zinwa.