Zinwa charges the council $1,200 per 100,000 cubic meters of water pumped from Gwenhoro Dam.It is not the first time that the two parties have had an impasse over water supplies. Last year Zinwa dragged the local authority to court over the debt and got an award forcing the council to settle the debt. However, an out of court settlement was later arrived at after council agreed to make staggered payments.
Bulle Madzitire, the Shurugwi Town Chairman confirmed the water cut by Zinwa but insisted the water authority had been too heavy handed in dealing with the debt issue.
“It is an open secret that local authorities are battling for survival as they are also owed huge amounts by residents and other rate payers. It is therefore not fair for Zinwa to cut us off,” he said.
Madzitire also indicated that the disconnection would negatively impact on the town because it did not have alternative sources of the precious liquid.
“It is our hope that the matter will be timeously resolved and I urge residents not to panic because a way out will be found soon,” he said.
Sources at Town House said the accumulation of the debt may have been caused by mismanagement of funds because huge mining firms like Anglo-Platinum mining giant Unki Mine poured huge revenue into the council coffers.
Recently Town Secretary Mike Siziba and another council employee Hazel Sithole were suspended for abuse of office after allegedly parcelling out commercial stands at the famous Town Park.
Post published in: News