Gwanda disconnects water over $330m debt

Two Nations Correspondent

GWANDA – Gwanda Municipality has started disconnecting water supplies to defaulting ratepayers after Zinwa introduced prepaid bulk water meters to recover $190 million that the local authority owes it.
Gwanda financial director Xolisani Dube said the local authority is owed a total of $330 million and $140 million of that by Government departments, a situation which has since paralysed service delivery in the mining town.

Town Clerk Priscilla Nkala said the Zinwa prepaid bulk meters have brought unprecedented financial constraints on council.
“The Municipality is running out of cash to purchase prepaid water due to low revenue collection. It is against this background that we are disconnecting water supplies to all residents who are owing more than $5000,” said the Town Clerk.

Water supplies have continuously been disrupted since Zinwa reactivated prepaid bulk water meters this month to press the local authority to attend to its debt.
The Municipality needs to pay $50 million monthly for undisrupted water supply.https://twonations.co.zw