Bulawayo City Council has filed a $2 000 lawsuit against George Mlilo, its former director of Engineering Services and Secretary for Public Works, for unpaid rates at his house in the leafy suburb of Matsheumhlope.
According to the summons filed by the BCC lawyers, Sansole and Senda Legal Practitioners at the Bulawayo High Court, the city fathers are seeking an order compelling him to settle $2 409,46 in unpaid rates at his number 5 Tudor Close house in Matsheumhlope.
“Whereof the plaintiff (BCC) claims, a payment of the sum of $2 409, 46 for the services rendered for the period from March 2009 to February 2011. Interest at the prescribed rate from the date of summons to date of full payment and defendant pay cost of suit,” read the order filed as case number HC1034/11.
It was submitted that Mlilo failed to pay rates at the house between 2009 and February 2011 inspite of several reminders sent to him by the council. BCC then approached the High Court to force him to pay the amount.
The matter is still to be heard and Mlilo has not yet filed any opposing papers.
Mlilo is one of several prominent people and businesses that reportedly owed the local authority large sums of money in unpaid rates.
BCC said residents owed $45 489 369, 86 while industrial and commercial debtors owe $17 416 202, 41 and the government $8 321 178, 51 in unpaid rates. The situation has left the local authority incapacitated to the extent of failing to pay its debts and provide proper services to residents.
In January, Zesa disconnected power supply at the council’s three strategic offices over a $9, 2million debt.
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Affected areas include the City Hall that houses the mayor’s office and council chambers and Tower Block where most of the local authority’s administration work is done, including the revenue hall.
The local authority has since installed generators at the mayor’s offices as a stop-gap measure while negotiations for restoration of power continue.
