Zinwa disconnects defaulting customers

Harare (New Ziana) – The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has embarked on an exercise to disconnect defaulting customers, targeting schools, parastatals, mines, churches and businesses to recover at least $2 billion that it is owed.

Zinwa corporate communications and marketing manager Marjorie Munyonga said disconnections were part of several measures being undertaken to push clients to pay for water.

“These institutions owe ZINWA a combined $400 680 033 in unpaid bills as at December 31, 2021, with some of the debts being outstanding for several months.

“This disconnection exercise is part of the several efforts that ZINWA is instituting to try and recover the over $2 billion it is owed by various clients that also include domestic users, local authorities and irrigators,” she said.

Munyonga said some of the measures that ZINWA was taking to recover the outstanding amounts included litigation and engaging owing consumers.

“The non-payment of water bills by these various clients has adversely affected ZINWA’s capability to fully and effectively execute its mandate as the revenue collected from water users is required for the procurement of key water resources management inputs such as water treatment chemicals, spares, fuel, electricity, payment of suppliers and the honoring of statutory obligations such as taxes and levies.

“All clients in the target groups whose accounts are not up to date are therefore advised to settle their bills or to approach their respective service centres and present acceptable payment plans to avoid the inconveniences associated with the disconnection of water supplies.

“Clients outside categories targeted by the current disconnection exercise are also urged to ensure that they settle whatever they are owing to ZINWA,” she said.

ZINWA is a wholly Government owned entity established in 2000 to manage the country’s water resources.

New Ziana