Alex Samanyanga
Harare City Council is set to engage Debt Collectors to recover over ZWL$5billion owed by residents and businesses.
Speaking through their Twitter account, City of Harare urged defaulting residents to make payment plans with the Council to avoid disconnection and penalties.
“Harare will soon deploy debt collectors to collect all outstanding payments. The best is to do a payment plan now and respect the agreement over the specified time. Council is owed over ZWL$5 billion by various creditors.” reads the statement.
The MDC- Alliance led Council is on record charging exorbitant rates to residents but their services in the city leaves a lot to be desired.
In many Suburbs around the City water is only available once a week, while others go for months without running water.
Some properties with Septic tanks installed continue to be billed for sewer and refuse reticulation.
Roads around the City are littered with potholes which contribute to high maintenance costs for vehicles. Uncollected garbage and litter are have become an eyesore along the streets of Harare.
Yet Harare City Councillors are known for living lavish lifestyles at the expense of their mandate which is Service delivery.
On his Christmas message to the people of Zimbabwe last year President Emmerson Mnangagwa ordered an audit to ascertain the financial and ethical status of the Harare City Council with a clear mandate to flush corrupt officials in the institution.
“My Government is unrelenting in the fight against corruption, through the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and other relevant institutions.
“In the case of Harare City Council, I have directed the Auditor General to carry out a thorough forensic audit to establish the alleged intricate web of corruption within the local authority,” said President Mnangagwa.
A number of Harare council officials have been arrested to date over alleged land scams Kuwadzana and Westlea.
Housing director Edmore Nhekairo is facing a criminal abuse of office charge over approval of Westlea stands allocation whereas Acting human resources director Matthew Marara and Principal housing director Edgar Dzehonye are being accused of fleecing USD1 141 779 from land seekers in Kuwadzana.
Last year Local government Minister July Moyo suspended the Harare City Council Mayor Jacob Mafume together with his deputy Luckson Mukunguma over various allegations of corruption.
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