THE decision by Zanu PF to write off residents’ debts to local authorities ahead of the July 3013 general elections has backfired amid reports the campaign strategy is now haunting Harare City Council.
BY MOSES MATENGA
The local authority is now resorting to suing residents who default in payment of rates to raise money to be afloat.
The move has resulted in the cancelling of 256 leases and issuing of more than 4 000 warrants of execution to debtors.
Council spokesperson Michael Chideme yesterday said several people had not paid their dues since the debt write-off, but insisted gloves were off as council was leaving no stone unturned in recovering millions owed by business and residents.
“Harare City Council is on a drive to ensure that property owners and those that lease council properties pay their monthly bills to council. There are people who have not bothered to pay a single cent since the debt write-off of July 2013,” Chideme said.
In 2013, Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo announced a write-off of residents’ debts, a move described as populist with far-reaching effects on service delivery.
Chideme said it had emerged that most of the debtors had not paid even a single cent to council since July 2013.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
He said Harare was owed in excess of $300 million and that the local authority was doing everything possible to recover the money.
“The money is required to fund service delivery such as the provision of water, sewer, refuse collection, street lighting, road repairs, and the general maintenance of city facilities, among a host of other uses,” he said.
“This week, the city issued 256 lease cancellation notices to tenants occupying council properties. The abovementioned properties owed the city $4,5 million,” he added.
He said the local authority had issued 4 039 warrants of execution against property.
“The warrants are valued at $16 536 786,50. An additional 28 404 summons valued at $24 992 671,40 have been issued against defaulting ratepayers.
“Warrants of execution have been served to residents in Marlborough, Borrowdale, Mt Pleasant, Adylin, Bluffhill, Greendale, Chadcombe, Msasa Park and Cranborne,” Chideme said.
He said water disconnections were also taking place in Mt Pleasant, Avondale, Borrowdale West and Marlborough.
All commercial properties that owe the city over $10 000 have been handed over for litigation through the High Court.
“Council is also encouraging all property owners leasing their properties to ensure that owners’ rates are paid to council. Our investigations have shown that absentee landlords make up the bulk of people whose properties are not up to date,” he added.
