BY STEPHEN CHADENGA THE Gweru City Council has encouraged residents to record water meter readings at their premises and submit them to the local authority following continuous complaints by ratepayers of overcharging.
In a statement yesterday, council said: “Record your own meter reading and take a picture of the actual meter reading and send on WhatsApp to the client liaison clerk on 0772998331. The picture should be accompanied by details of the resident’s phone number, account number, residential address and typed meter reading. Submission of the meter readings should be done from the 1st to the 15th of each month.”
Over the years, residents have demanded itemised bills from council, arguing that the itemised bills presented a true reflection of outstanding amounts owed to the local authority by ratepayers.
An itemised bill is one which lists the cost of each item rather than just the total costs.
Last year, council said it would introduce the itemised bills, but to date it has not implemented the plan.
Gweru United Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Development Association Trust director David Chikore said: “We have made it clear to council that it should provide individual itemised bills to all ratepayers on the council’s billing radar. Itemised bills will enable ratepayers to authenticate the validity of the components that constitute the debt they owe the local authority.”
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