Harare City Council Cracks Down on Unpaid Utility Bills, Sparking Hopes for Improved Services

The Harare City Council has issued summons to residents and businesses over unpaid utility bills totaling ZW$940 million (US$70 million), in a move that has sparked expectations for improved service delivery in Zimbabwe's capital city. The council says the money is needed to run the city's operations and provide essential services to residents.

According to council spokesperson Stanley Gama, the city is owed over ZW$940 million by residents, businesses, parastatals, and government departments. The unpaid bills have negatively impacted the council's ability to provide key services to residents, such as water supply and refuse collection.

In an effort to recover the outstanding bills, the council has started issuing final demands and summons to debtors. They have also warned that the names of those who fail to settle their bills will be posted on social media and at district offices in a 'name and shame' exercise. "Debtors are urged to settle their bills immediately to avoid the inconvenience of legal action and the possibility of losing property," Gama stated.

Why this matters: The crackdown on unpaid utility bills by the Harare City Council highlights the financial challenges faced by local authorities in providing essential services to residents. The recovery of these funds could potentially lead to improved service delivery and infrastructure maintenance in Zimbabwe's capital city, benefiting millions of residents.

However, residents have criticized the council for demanding payment for services that have not been adequately provided, citing issues such as frequent water supply disruptions and poor refuse collection. The Zimbabwe National Organisations and Residents Trust has called for the government to intervene, arguing that the council's billing system is flawed and that residents should not be expected to pay for substandard services.

Despite the criticism, the Harare City Council appears determined to recover the unpaid bills. Mayor Jacob Mafume previously stated that the government is the biggest debtor, and the council plans to increase the number of summons issued per week from 1,000 to 2,000. The council blames these debtors for the deterioration of the capital city and the inability to manage disease outbreaks like cholera and typhoid. As the city takes legal action against defaulters, residents hope that the recovered funds will translate into tangible improvements in service delivery and infrastructure across Harare.

Key Takeaways

• Harare City Council owed $940M by residents, businesses, parastatals, govt.
• Council issues summons to recover unpaid bills, warns of legal action.
• Unpaid bills impact service delivery, water supply, refuse collection.
• Residents criticize poor services, council's flawed billing system.
• Council plans to increase summons, blames debtors for city's deterioration.