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NewsDay

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Council locks out residents over rates arrears

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MORE than 40 families in Torwood suburb have been sleeping in the open since last Friday after they were locked out of their council-rented homes by the Redcliff Municipality over unpaid rentals.

MORE than 40 families in Torwood suburb have been sleeping in the open since last Friday after they were locked out of their council-rented homes by the Redcliff Municipality over unpaid rentals.

STAFF REPORTERS

One of the victims, Susan Pepukai told NewsDay that her family was locked out over a $50 debt accumulated over two months. Pepukai blamed her husband’s employer Ziscosteel [now New Zimsteel] for causing the debt to balloon as the still manufacturer owes its employees several months’ salaries.

Her family, just like several others in Kwekwe’s dormitory town, have been scrounging for a living and were unsure where they would get the money from to pay service debt plus the $15 fine before they could be allowed back into their houses, which ironically do not have electricity and running water.

Among the victims is 78-year-old Sukina Mujanga who said she had been sleeping in the open for three days.

Council’s finance committee chairperson councilor Clayton Masiyatsva, however, said he was unaware of the lockouts. “We have not passed any resolution to that effect because as a local authority we are aware of directives which bind us not to engage in such evil acts,” Masiyatsva said.

“What we have is a debt collection policy, which is yet to be implemented therefore anyone locking out four-year-olds and anyone else for that matter does not have the blessing of councillors.”

In 2012, Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo ordered all local authorities to stop cutting water supplies to unpaid residents.

Torwood Residents Association organising secretaryDanisa Ncube accused council of failing to provide basic services yet it was quick to lock out people from their houses.

Meanwhile, about 500 Kamativi Tin Mine residents face eviction after allegedly failing to clear rental arrears with Hwange Rural District Council (RDC) within the set parameters.

The residents said council’s acting administration officer Misozi Mvula had given them up to Monday this week to clear their arrears or face eviction.

Kamativi, which is rich in tin and tantalite deposits, began operations in 1936, but shutdown in June 1994 following a decline in tin prices and falling ore grades, turning it into a ghost town.