In recent years, HCC has been complaining that Chipangano, a Zanu (PF) vigilante group in Mbare, has been influencing residents not to pay rent in order to derail the MDC-controlled council’s activities.
Residents revealed this week that Zanu (PF) leadership has been urging them to start paying $20 every month for water and electricity bills so that electricity can be restored.
A Matapi resident identified as Sibongile said : “We have had three weeks now without power and a couple of months without water. It is public knowledge that it is Zanu (PF) that is in control of what happens in Mbare. It is no surprise that even council officials are not aware of this development.”
Tadiwa Machado of Nenyere Flats said residents were being threatened with loss of their rooms if they do not pay. “It was revealed at a recent Zanu (PF) meeting that each hostel has a debt of over $100,000 and if we do not start paying now council will replace us with other people,” he said.
“But most people do not want to pay as there is no power at Matapi District Offices and they are issuing hand-written receipts. This is because during the Zim-dollar era some receipt books disappeared at the district offices and council could not confirm who paid and not,” he added. A council official at Matapi District Office, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said hostel residents had been flocking their offices to pay. When contacted for comment the Chairperson of the City’s Housing and Community Services, Joshua Nyatsuro and Ward 4 Councillor Friday Muleya, both professed ignorance of the development. “Maybe ZESA is using load shedding exercise to pursued residents to pay up their bills,” said Muleya.
ZESA spokesperson, Fullard Gwasira said they were not carrying out any exercise to push people to pay their bills.
Post published in: News