Kwekwe City Council has reportedly rekindled its push to disconnect water supplies to its neighbour, Redcliff Municipality over unpaid bills amounting to $10 million.
BY BLESSED MHLANGA
The decision comes at a time Redcliff mayor, Freddy Kapuya has been evicting families from their council-owned homes over non-payment of rentals and water bills.
Water supplies to Redcliff have always been a tricky issue, as Ziscosteel is an interlocular getting water from Kwekwe and supplying it to over 40 000 residents in Redcliff.
Kwekwe has accused Redcliff of failing to pay its water bills since 2009.
Early this year the two councils struck a deal, where Redcliff was supposed to skip Ziscosteel and pay directly to Kwekwe City Council.
Kwekwe Town Council’s finance committee chairperson, Janet Ticharunga recently told councillors that Redcliff Municipality was now reneging on the deal, hence the decision to resume water cuts.
“Redcliff Municipality are now backtracking on the agreement that they be billed directly, arguing that council should instead bill Ziscosteel. In view of these developments, action should be taken against Redcliff such as disconnecting water supplies,” she said.
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The move to disconnect Redcliff contradicts Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere’s directive against such a move. Kwekwe mayor Matenda Madzoke also told the meeting he supported the move and slammed Redcliff council officials for employing delaying tactics, while burdening Kwekwe with debts.
“Redcliff cannot continue to consume free water while our council is saddled with the burden of treating water and the Zinwa debt which continues to grow,” he said.
