Residents in Bulawayo’s Ward 17 owe the Bulawayo City Council at least ZWL$38 million (approximately US$1.42 million) in unpaid rates and service charges, a council official has said.
Ward 17 comprises Pumula North, A portion of Pumula South Phase 3, Dunstal Farm, Hydepark Village, Mazwi, St Peters village , Gum Plantation, Khami Waterworks, and Robert Sinyoka.
The debt emerged during a recent community meeting held to discuss title deeds and council rates, where residents were urged to clear outstanding balances or make payment arrangements with the local authority.
Speaking at the meeting, finance department representative Nosizo Bhebhe said the growing debt burden was affecting council operations and service delivery.
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“The debt for Ward 17 residents currently stands at ZWL$38 million. If we all commit ourselves as residents, we can clear it within a reasonably short period,” Bhebhe said.
“As the city council, we encourage all residents to come forward and engage with us if they are facing challenges. We can draw up payment plans to avoid situations where we have to cut off water supplies or take legal action.
“You may have noticed that monthly bills are no longer being issued regularly. Council does not have enough resources to print and distribute bills every month, but there are alternative ways for residents to check how much they owe.”
Residents complained that in some cases they continue paying rates, but the charges remain high.
They also said irregular billing contributes to delayed payments, as many are often unaware of their outstanding balances.
Bhebhe said that under normal consumption patterns, water charges average around US$30 per household per month, giving residents a rough estimate of expected payments.
Ward 17 councillor Sikhululekile Moyo encouraged residents to use online platforms, particularly WhatsApp, to check their bills and query discrepancies.
“Sometimes as residents we may think we are doing enough by paying every month. But what we need to consider is how much we are paying versus how much we owe,” Cllr Moyo said.
“If your bill is US$30 per month and you owe US$200, the US$200 remains unless you actively clear the arrears. People often complain that their bills are always high. It is important to check how much we owe and update our accounts accordingly.”
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