REDCLIFF residents took to the streets on Thursday to demonstrate against poor service delivery and failure by the local authority to provide clean potable water despite collecting rates and water charges.
BY BLESSED MHLANGA
Rutendo residents led the demonstrations in Redcliff following failure by the local authority to provide water for the past two weeks.
One of the demonstration leaders, Brayn Nyaruviro, said despite paying water bills and other rates on time, the local authority had failed to deliver services.
“We are saying they have failed us and condemned us to the dark ages. We have been without running water for the past two weeks and now Rutendo is inhabitable and we could see a massive disease outbreak if we do not act,” he said.
Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa programmes officer Obert Chinhamo, who also joined the demonstration, accused council of misplaced priorities.
He said Redcliff managed to fund a delegation to attend the recently-held Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo leaving the town “burning”.
Redcliff mayor Freddy Kapuya addressed the demonstrators and told them to instead pay up their bills if they wanted improved service delivery.
- 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
Kapuya told NewsDay Weekender that from expected revenue of $600 000 monthly, his council was only collecting $30 000.
He said council was, therefore, failing to service its water bill with Kwekwe City Council, which has run up to $1,6 million since August last year.
“We now owe Kwekwe City council $1,6 million for water supplies and our residents are failing to pay their bills so we have been disconnected over failure to pay. Kwekwe wants $60 000 a month and we are only collecting $30 000,” Kapuya said.
He said as long as residents failed to pay their water bills, his hands would remain tied and the situation would not get better any time soon.
