By Flata Kavinga
Kwekwe City Council has stepped up efforts to recover outstanding debts, with residents being warned that persistent failure to settle their bills could result in legal action and legally authorised, attachment of property.
Council Finance committee chairperson Cllr Alex Senge said the local authority had started issuing summons to residents with outstanding council bills as it intensifies revenue collection.
Speaking during a full council meeting, Senge said no resident, regardless of their position or social standing, would be exempt from the debt recovery process.
“Whether you are a director of Kwekwe City or councillor, you will be summoned by the courts to pay council debts. Even if you are prominent people, you will still be served with summons over council debts,” Senge said.
He urged councillors to engage residents in their respective wards and encourage them to settle outstanding bills, saying improved revenue collection was critical to the provision of municipal services.
“As Kwekwe City Council, we are saying pay council debts to avoid attachment of properties or houses. We mean serious business and urge residents to pay their debts with council to avoid the embarrassment of being served with summons,” he said.
The council’s move comes as local authorities across the country continue to grapple with revenue collection challenges, which can affect their ability to provide essential services.
Senge said residents should therefore treat council bills as a priority and settle outstanding amounts before the debt recovery process escalates.
However, any attachment of property would be subject to the applicable legal and court processes.
Council did not disclose during the meeting the total amount currently owed by residents or the number of summons that had been issued.
