Published by the government of Zimbabwe
23 May 2008
Harare — THE Zimbabwe National Authority has intensified its water disconnection exercise in Harare to recover more than $380 trillion it is owed by some consumers.
In an interview yesterday, Zinwa spokesperson Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said although the authority appreciates the importance of having water to support various daily activities, efforts are being made to ensure that what the authority is owed is recovered by the end of this month.
Mrs Munyonga said arrears had risen significantly over the last four months, adding that non-payment had compromised various operations, including the timely payment for purifying chemicals.
"Water is a basic human necessity which is also costly to process.
"For this valid reason, we usually give much time to our clients before we completely cut them off. But because what we are owed now is quite significant, we have no choice but to embark on a massive disconnecting exercise," Mrs Munyonga said.
She said the bulk of the money is owed by industrialists while up to 6 000 consumers have properties that are supposed to be paying levies but have changed their postal addresses without informing the authority of their new contacts.
Mrs Munyonga said new residential developments were also a major concern for Zinwa, which is currently worrying out ways to ensure payments are made where water meters were installed.
"We have disconnected supplies in some areas where water was being consumed and where there was no consumption but levies were not being paid.
"We are, however, still eager to recover all that we are owed, including levies.
"Where there is no compliance, our next move would be to invoke the Urban Councils Act and attach the property of those who seem to have disappeared."
She said there is need for consumers to also notify the authority of any property ownership changes, adding that currently there were billing complications where the water body continues billing some companies and Government institutions when the properties were sold to employees.
"Communicating such significant changes will go a long way in enhancing our operations because we will save money and time," Mrs Munyonga said.
She said it was also important for consumers living in new suburbs to ensure their physical addresses were easily visible to help in locating addresses of consumers whose water meters have defects.
Mrs Munyonga said the authority would soon officially inform consumers whose water meters are stuck to buy new ones as this was compromising the smooth running of Harare water's billing systems.
"Historical estimates can only be temporarily employed and we strongly urge consumers with defective meters to prioritise the need to have working ones."
Mrs Munyonga said Zinwa drive to recover what it is owed would boost their finances urgently needed to upgrade works currently underway in various sections and improve chemical stocks.
"The authority is striving to see the water supply challenges in Harare being alleviated and this can only be done if we work together.
"In the case of non-issue of bills, consumers should visit our banking halls at Rowan Martin and along Speke Avenue to check how much they are supposed to pay," she said.
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