Masvingo debtors’ bill balloons

TATENDA CHIKARA IN MASVINGO

Masvingo City Council’s debtors bill ballooned to  over ZWL$1.4bn as at September 30, 2022 from ZWL$423m in January this year as residents and companies struggle to pay due to the harsh economic environment, Business Times can report.

Of this amount, residents owe council a sum of ZWL$707,324, 793 while institutions, commercial  and industrial consumers owe the local authority ZWL$315,288,001 and  ZWL$363, 652, 338 respectively.

The flea markets  owe council ZWL$36,659,114.

Presenting the report during a recent budget consultative meeting at Mucheke Hall, the city’s senior accountant, Bernard Mhlolo, said:“The debtors book continues to balloon and stood at ZWL$1, 422, 924, 247 as of 30 September 2022, rising from the opening balance of ZWL$422, 514, 037.46 in January 2022. Council’s ability to invest in infrastructure and equipment is curtailed while maintenance of infrastructure also suffers.”

He said council has intensified debt collection with major debtors such as government institutions and other institutions. Engagements with individual debtors have also been intensified, Mhlolo said.

However, Ward 1 residents who attended the meeting urged the local authority to make use of Mucheke Rank and other income generating projects within the ward to relieve residents from exorbitant rates.

“Speaking on the issue of these debts in Ward 1, honestly they can be reduced if council makes use of our own hall, beerhalls as well as Mucheke rank. If you look back at your books (Council) you will find that ward 1 did not have such debts when these places were functional. In this ward there are many old people who struggle to survive,” one resident said.

Reacting to the suggestion, town clerk, Edward Mukaratirwa said : “We are looking forward to developing the rank. I think if we get money or get other partners; it is one of our priorities.”