Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) has urged residents to utilise the WhatsApp platform provided by the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to submit their latest water meter readings for updated bill statements, following the council’s announcement of delays in bill production and printing.
BPRA Secretary for Administration Thembelani Dube said bills that delay reaching the residents make it difficult for some to settle their dues.
“Of late the bills statements are usually a month behind and most ratepayers who wait for statements to be delivered find themselves having to pay double the amount,” he said.
In their announcement, the Town Clerk Christopher Dube advised residents that the March bill will appear in April 2024 statements due to ongoing updates to align with ZIMRA requirements.
“The City of Bulawayo would like to advise members of the public, stakeholders and Customers that the production and printing of Bills / Statements is lagging behind. The March 2024 bills will be incorporated in the April 2024 Bills/ Statements. This is as a result of the process of updating the Fiscalisation Data Management System(FDMS) Authentication Codes (QR Codes) to align Council’s fiscal invoices with ZIMRA requirements,” said Dube.
He said the billed amount for the March 2024 statements will appear in the April 2024 statements as a line item below the balance brought forward with the description.
Dube urged residents to contact the City of Bulawayo through the following means to obtain their current account balances:
1. Calling any of the following Bulawayo Direct Lines 02922 60731, 02922 60732, 0292260734, 02922 60736, 02922 66203, 02922 66624, 02922 63465, 02922 66521, 0292266479, 02922 66512 and 02922 66513
2.Emailing pgumede@citybyo.co.zw, nosbhebhe@citybyo.co.zw, sgasela@citybyo.co.zw, pube@citybyo.co.zw and esiziba@citybyo.co.zw
3. Whatsapp 0784 136 505
Residents have often complained of receiving high bills with the local authority admitting that it uses estimates due to manpower shortage.
