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Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
BULAWAYO City Council has taken Victory Fellowship church to court for failing to settle a debt of more than $45 000 in unpaid water bills and service charges.

The municipality this week filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court citing Victory Fellowship as the defendant.

The council is demanding $45 071 from the church which is situated along George Silundika Street.

The council, through its lawyers James, Moyo-Majwabu and Nyoni Legal Practitioners, said the church continuously failed, refused or neglected to settle the outstanding amounts despite demand.

“The defendant has not been paying its service charges and has to date accumulated arrears amounting to $45 071, 68 which sum despite demand, the defendant has failed or refused to pay,” said the council.

It said failure by the church to pay the money impacted negatively on service delivery in the city.

“The failure by the defendants to pay their statutory obligation has negatively impaired the Bulawayo City Council’s service delivery in the city which includes inter alia, road maintenance, provision of clean water, refuse collection and other essential services, which is a great disadvantage to other rate payers,” said the council’s lawyers.

In the court papers, Bulawayo City Council wants the church to pay the debt with interest calculated from the date the summons were issued to the date of payment.

Victory Fellowship church has not yet filed a notice to enter an appearance to defend the summons. — @mashnets