Gweru residents forced to pay for dry taps

Gweru City Council has threatened to sue residents owing over US$280 000 in unpaid rates but residents have vowed not to pay their bills claiming they had not received the services.

According to statements obtained from the department of finance, as of 6 September 2012, Mkoba 19 a suburb in Zimbabwe’s third largest city, residents’ owed council US$273 989.55
including-metered water charges.

Excluding water charges the residents owed 190 645. 52. Mkoba 19 has about 772 households and residents are accusing council of billing for services that are not being provided. Mkoba 19 residents said they have not received water for almost four years yet council is billing them.

City council has failed to provide services especially water. Mkoba 19 is on high ground and is one of the areas that have erratic supply of water because Gwenhoro where Gweru draws water has only three functional pumps instead of 11.

The pumps at Gwenhoro, which were installed in 1971, have become obsolete and constantly break down hence the water problems in the city.

Despite a directive by the Minister of Local Government and Urban Development that councils spent only 30% of their revenue on salaries and 70% on service delivery, Director of Finance Edgar Mwedzi said low revenue inflows has forced council to spend more than the required percentage.

Investigations have revealed that salaries eat up most of the revenue collected by council. In August council collected $809 865 and 60% went to salaries while in July 42% was used for salaries. In June out of the$ 1 092 831 collected, 45% was gobbled by salaries.

Despite failure to provide the services, Onwell Masimba Assistant Director of finance in the city council insisted that council is justified to bill residents.

Masimba told this reporter that while they appreciate council has been struggling to provide water to the residents; the statements sent to residents do not carry water charges only.

“The problem that we have encountered as council is that residents have an assumption that the money that will be on their statements is only water charges,” he explained.

“The council statements have the metered water charges which is the amount of water used per a specific period, then the water fixed charge paid whether one has access to water or does not have. There are also the sewerage and refuse removal charges. Then there is the supplementary charges, which is tax on property, which in most cases is more than any other charge,” Masimba added.

The supplementary charges are a result of the Urban Council’s Act. According to the Act in section 269, council for the payment of tax should rate all property within a council area. Masimba said Supplementary charges include the tax as prescribed by the Urban Council’s Act.

However residents argued that when the Act was put in place, councils then were providing the services and said things have since changed as councils are failing in service delivery.

Masimba explained that while it could be reasonable for the Mkoba 19 residents to refuse to pay for the water charges, there is no justification for refusing to pay other charges that are on their bills.

He also showed the reporter that water is charged according to usage and said when there is no water the residents are not charged under the water metered charge. Masimba admitted that while some households had gone for years without water, the situation has since improved as they are now getting water albeit at odd hours.

Masimba explained that between December last year and March this year, council offered a 20% discount to all those that owed council. “We even invited them to come and make payment plans of their own will and they ignored. We are now handing over debtors to lawyers and Mkoba 19 residents should pay up their bills or risk being handed over to lawyers,” Masimba warned.

Masimba said unlike private companies that have shareholders who inject capital then a service is provided; councils rely on residents to inject the capital for councils to provide services. Masimba however admitted council officials have failed to go to residents and explain to them that statements from council are not solely water charges.

Isaiah Maradze, the Chairperson of Mkoba 19 Residents Association a brainchild of the Gweru United Residents Association (GURA) the biggest residents association in Gweru said council has to provide service if they need money from residents.

“The times that other residents in Mkoba 19 got water, it was dirty and we cannot pay for unclean water. Council has a duty to provide clean water to its residents. Even the supplementary charges which are meant to develop the roads and for council to give us bins, we shall not pay because we are not getting the required services,” Maradze said.

“They lie to us that they only charge water when it comes. Sometimes we get water-metered charges even without getting water. On the statements there is a water fixed charge which they say is to maintain the pipes, why should we pay for it when the use of the pipes does not benefit us,” Luke Kudita the secretary of the residents association said.

“The council is insensitive, imagine you go and fetch water from a borehole like you are in rural areas and then you are asked to pay for
a service that you are not getting. It’s actually unbelievable that they are threatening to take legal action. We shall not pay their bills and we shall wait to be taken to court,” Molly Sibanda another resident queried.

Sandra Nhatarikwa who has a house at the end of the village said they were the most affected. “We do not get water hence people use the bushes and maize fields. As a family we can no longer sit in our yard while outdoors because of the stench that comes behind the house,” Nhatarikwa complained.

“We cannot even pay for the sewage fees because sewer does not move where there is no water. Actually we should be compensated for the stench of human waste that has been caused by the failure of council to provide water rather than us paying council,’ she added.

Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GURA) said council had to provide the services and residents resist being forced to pay for services they do not get. “Council is not providing the services that they are required to give to residents. Residents cannot continue to pay for non existent services,” Nyasha Mpofu a member said.

In May the Mkoba 19 residents demonstrated against council over the letters of final demands to the residents. The council had given residents a March due date either to make payments or payment plans.

Contacted for comment over the issue, Councilor for the ward, Clemence Kwaru who was emotional shouted at this reporter.

“The problem of water has nothing to do with me as a councilor. The area is on a highland and the pumps cannot pump water,” Kwaru said before hurling insults accusing the media of having an agenda to taint his image.

Vimbai Nhutsve, Midlands Regional Coordinator for National Association of Non Governmental Organizations said they have engaged with council over the water issue especially concerning Mkoba 19 residents’ and service delivery.

“The local authority promised they will improve the water situation and service delivery but as Nango we feel it’s unfair for people to be made to pay for services that they do not get. We feel Gweru is also sitting on a health time bomb as people have resorted to use of unsafe water and bushes as toilets.”

Sibusisiwe Sanya the secretary for the Midlands Chapter of the Women Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) urged council to decisively deal with water issue and said water was a basic need.

“As women we are worried if council fails to deliver the services that they are supposed to give especially water. The unavailability of water is a major concern for women as they are the most affected.

“We condemn the situation where there are areas where city council is not providing water and other areas where water comes at midnight,”
Mrs. Sanya said it was sad to note that while most people had migrated to urban areas to get water from taps and electricity they have been driven to live the rural life again while they are in towns.

Deputy Mayor Taurai Demo said that the council position was that the residents should pay.

“Some of them have now understood that even without water you pay for other fixed charges and some of them have already made payment plans. For those that are still resisting we urge then to pay as they will be paying for other fixed charges.

“If water has not been used the meter does not move hence council cannot charge them for water that they are not getting.” Nehanda Radio