KWEKWE — Hundreds of residents in the high density suburbs of Mbizo and Amaveni spent the weekend without water after unpaid council workers went around closing water taps in an effort to force ratepayers to settle their bills.
BLESSED MHLANGA
Residents whose taps were closed resorted to using nearby open spaces to relieve themselves much to the fury of apostolic sects who found their places of worship desecrated by human waste.
Tonderai Mavenge who worships in the open space between Mbizo 17 and 15 said on Sunday his church had to get shovels from home to clear human waste which littered their place of worship as they gathered for prayer.
“We had to first remove human waste before opening prayers and even after removing it, the bushy areas were stinking heavily and it was not a good day for us,” he said.
Council’s move was in open defiance to a government directive which called on local authorities not to cut water supplies on defaulting residents and ratepayers.
Kwekwe City Council, which is reeling under a heavy debt including an outstanding salary bill stretching several months, is owed over $20 million in outstanding rates and bills which have accumulated from July 31 last year.
The water cuts are targeting all ratepayers even those with paltry debts of $10.
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Council workers claimed they had been ordered by city treasurer Rejoice Maweni to cut water supplies at all homes which owe council or risk not getting paid.
“The treasurer told us that we risk not being paid if we don’t close taps, therefore, we will not entertain any negotiations,” one council worker said.
However, mayor Matenda Madzoke said the disconnections were not sanctioned by councillors.
“We are aware of the government directive and my councillors have not defied the standing directive which was passed to us by the Ministry of Local Government,” Madzoke said.
“There is no resolution to that effect and whoever is doing it must have his or her own agenda.”
Madzoke said he had called Maweni who also denied any knowledge of the water cuts.
“She told me that no such order was issued from her office and was surprised.
“I have thus instructed her to look into the issue,” Madzoke said.
