THE Bulawayo United Residents Association (Bura) says the US dollar billing system is leaving residents facing final demands, summonses and property attachments, despite council claims that it has brought stability.
Bulawayo’s city council introduced US-dollar billing to shield its revenue from local currency volatility, but residents say the hard-currency charges are outpacing their ability to pay — even as taps run dry and roads crumble.
The backlash has reached the minister’s office, yet the bills keep coming.
Bura chairperson Winos Dube said service delivery remains unsatisfactory even with the new revenue streams.
Dube said residents have been unhappy with the billing system since its inception and have raised the matter with council, business, government and Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Judith Ncube.
“This issue of the US dollar billing system in our local council has been outstanding since its inception,” Dube said.
“Residents have never been happy with the billing system — we had a meeting with the minister, expressing our unhappiness over the billing system within our council.”
Dube said residents are still feeling the effects.
“We are all crying. We have final demands. Some of us have been served with summonses,” he said.
“Some have had their properties attached, just because of this billing system, which has never given people satisfaction in how it has been done.”
Dube acknowledged road works along 3rd Avenue and Lobengula Street, but said more must be done, particularly with 30% of parking fees from TTI earmarked for roads.
“As much as service delivery is still not satisfactory, we should be seeing a real difference in road improvements, especially within the CBD, from Masotsha up to about 15th Avenue,” he said.
Despite the complaints, Dube urged residents to keep paying what they can so council can deliver services and stakeholders can demand accountability.
“My advice is: let us continue paying whatever we can afford.
“Let us try to drop those US dollars that we might have, because we need these services.
Bulawayo resident Patricia Tshabalala said the city “has not moved even a bit” and cited a lack of transparency in the local authority.
“It is not clear what is happening, because I believe there is one individual in control who is trying to sabotage the Bulawayo agenda.
“One thing I know for sure is that we should come together and be one community.”
The council currently bills residents in US dollars, although it also allows payment in local currency.
Some residents have complained of receiving astronomical bills despite going many days without running water in their taps.