Harare (New Ziana) – The Masvingo City Council has announced plans to immediately start disconnecting water supplies to properties with outstanding water bills to force residents to settle their debts.

In a notice, the Acting Town Clerk, Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said all account balances over 30 days are considered delinquent and subject to having services discontinued.

The move comes at a time most residents in Masvingo were struggling to pay rates and other municipal charges due to the harsh economic environment.

“Any service disconnected for non-payment shall remain disconnected until all delinquent amounts as well as a re-connection fee of USD5 for residential and USD10 for commercial or equivalent at auction rate has been paid in full. To avoid inconveniences, residents are encouraged to pay their bills on time,” read a council notice posted on social media.

The notice comes at a time when the local authority has indicated that it is hamstrung to continue offering services such as collecting refuse regularly due to difficulties in getting fuel which is being mostly sold in foreign currency around the city.

The council has also imposed a water rationing regime on the city, citing inadequate capacity to supply the fast growing city with new areas such as Victoria Ranch relying solely on communal boreholes.

Meanwhile, the council has also increased its parking fees to US$1 with immediate effect. Failure to display a parking disc would attract a fine of US$20.

Clamping penalty is now US$30, while the towing penalty has been set at US$100. Washing and repair of cars on the street will attract a penalty of US40.
New Ziana