By Flata Kavinga
A Kwekwe resident, Rennie Ndhlela, has urged the City of Kwekwe to intensify revenue collection in affluent suburbs, accusing some residents of failing to settle their bills despite having the means to pay.
Ndhlela said Ward 10, under Mayor Cllr Albert Zinhanga, had the highest outstanding debt among the city’s wards, with residents owing US$5.53 million, and called on council to introduce stricter measures to recover the money.
She was speaking during the local authority’s 2027 budget consultative meetings with ward development committees and ratepayers associations at the Civic Centre in Kwekwe.
Ndhlela said residents in Wards 1 and 8, which she described as predominantly occupied by senior citizens, were more consistent in paying their bills than those in affluent suburbs.
She urged council to adopt enforcement measures similar to those used during crackdowns on businesses that owe the local authority, including closing premises to compel debtors to settle outstanding bills.
“Residents in Ward 8 and Ward 1, comprising mostly senior citizens, are leading in paying council debts, while those in affluent suburbs such as Ward 10, where the rich stay, are reluctant to pay,” she said.
Ndhlela also alleged that some residents in Ward 10 locked their gates to prevent council meter readers from accessing their properties, making it difficult for the local authority to carry out its duties.
She further claimed that some residents with large properties operated vegetable gardens supplying chain stores but were failing to pay their council bills.
She called for tougher action against such residents, including the use of graders to destroy the gardens, arguing that this would compel them to settle their debts.
However, the proposals raise questions about the enforcement measures council can lawfully use to recover outstanding revenue, particularly where action could affect private property or business operations.
The call comes as the local authority conducts consultations on its 2027 budget, with revenue collection a key consideration in its capacity to finance service delivery.
