Kariba town clerk George Makunde says council was failing to provide efficient service delivery because of a $2,8 million debt owed by residents in unpaid rates.
Makunde said this at a local authorities association’s workshop in Bulawayo last weekend.
He told NewsDay that most residents in the resort town were not paying rates.
“The ratepayers are not paying their rates. That is the reason why most local authorities are failing to deliver. As I speak, ratepayers in Kariba owe us $2,8 million, an amount which would enable the council to overcome most of the challenges that it is facing,” said Makunde.
“Most of the sewer pipes in most local authorities are aged. Unless local authorities are financially capacitated to deal with the bursting pipes, the crisis will continue,” he said.