By Flata Kavinga
Kwekwe City Council has warned residents owing more than US$2 400 in unpaid bills that they risk having their properties attached as the local authority intensifies efforts to recover outstanding debts.
Council finance director Rejoice Maweni-Dandira said the local authority had begun pursuing legal action against defaulting residents, with the Deputy Sheriff potentially attaching and auctioning their properties to recover the money owed.
Speaking during the City of Kwekwe’s 2027 budget consultative meetings with ward development committees and ratepayers associations at the Civic Centre, Maweni-Dandira said the local authority was owed US$32 million by residents, undermining its capacity to provide services.
“We are now taking residents to court over their debts, which may result in attachments. If you owe council above US$2 400, we commence court action to recover the debt,” she said.
“The Deputy Sheriff may attach property for defaulting residents and dispose of it through auctions. We are going to see more of this in an endeavour to improve revenue collection.”
Maweni-Dandira said some residents had not made any payments towards their council bills since 2021, while others had reconnected water supplies after disconnections.
She warned that council would continue disconnecting services for defaulters while encouraging residents to enter into payment plans to settle their outstanding bills.
“We have sent notices and final demands and legal enforcements as we have taken the legal route to recover what council is owed by residents,” she said.
Maweni-Dandira said the local authority was working towards meeting the minimum service delivery standards, which require it to collect 80 percent of the amounts owed to council.
She said improved revenue collection was necessary to enable council to respond to residents’ concerns over service delivery.
“Residents may think that we do not want to improve service delivery when, in fact, we are owed US$32 million,” she said.
She urged residents to engage council over their outstanding bills and make payment arrangements, adding that some accounts had accumulated debts of up to US$4 500.
The finance director also said council was engaging ward councillors to encourage residents to settle their bills.
To improve access to its billing services, council had introduced a WhatsApp platform through which residents can make enquiries about their accounts and seek information on their bills.
Residents can contact the platform on 0718 118 608.
Maweni-Dandira said the local authority intended to reduce its outstanding debts as part of efforts to strengthen revenue collection and support development.
The warning comes as council conducts consultations on its 2027 budget, with residents and ratepayers expected to contribute to discussions on the local authority’s revenue and service delivery priorities.
