The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) will this month intensify debt collection after revealing that it is owed over ZWL $200 billion by debtors as at the end of August 2023.
Domestic creditors make up the majority of debtors as they owe the local authority ZWL$ 120 billion, followed by industrial and commercial debtors owing over ZWL$ 69 billion.
The council is owed around ZLW$18 billion by government debtors.
| Debtors’ details | Balance C/F August 2023 (ZWL$) |
| Government Debtors | 18, 981,453,491 |
| Industrial and Commercial Debtors | 69,613,231,209 |
| Domestic Debtors | 128,533,778,845 |
| Total | 217,128,463,545 |
Debts, according to Bulawayo mayor David Coltart, are a big source of concern since they make it harder for the council to provide efficient service delivery.
“The city of Bulawayo is owed over ZWL$200 billion in property taxes and service fees by consumers as at the end of August 2023. The city’s indebtedness is a major cause of concern as it makes it difficult for the Council to deliver efficient and timely service to the residents of the city of Kings,” said Coltart in a statement.
The mayor appealed to the residents of Bulawayo, Industrial and Commercial Institutions plus government organisations to partner with the council by timeously paying their bills.
He added that a timeous payment of bills will assist the City acquire adequate financial resources to provide key services such as water, refuse removal and enable BCC to renew the dilapidated infrastructure.
“I call upon each and every one of you to join us in moving Bulawayo forward. Payments and payment plans can be made at the City’s Revenue offices,” Coltart said.
“From October 2023, the city will from October 2023 intensify debt collection through service restrictions and other measures to all residential and commercial properties whose accounts are in arrears.”
To make bill payments and request billing assistance, residents can use the following numbers:
1. Direct lines 02922 66203, 02922 66624, 02922 63465, 02922 60731, 02922 66521, 02922 66479 and 02922 66513
2. Email bccbilling@citybyo.co.zw
3. WhatsApp 0784136 505
