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Midlands Correspondent
GWERU City Council has started sending letters of final demand to defaulting consumers  in a bid to recover over $35 million owed to it by residents, business and Government departments.

Gweru Commission chairperson Mr Tsunga Mhangami told Chronicle that some residents last made payments to the local authority in 2013.

“There are some residents who have not paid anything to council since 2013 and such residents are the ones we are mainly targeting.

“As council we are entitled to enforce payments of rates and bills,” he said.

“As council we can also issue summons to enforce people to recover what is owed to us.

“To those who are going to respond nothing will be lost but to those who will not comply we will take them to court to recover the monies.”

Mr Mhangami said that council will not be making the summons of final demand through lawyers as the local authority feels the route is too “harsh” on residents.

“As a local authority we are empowered to summon residents and we have chosen this route as opposed to using debt collectors because it is a harsh way of treating residents.

“We are hopeful that defaulting residents will comply and will come up with acceptable payment plans to the local authority so that they settle their bills,” he said.

However, Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association chairperson Mr Cornilia Selipiwe said there was no need to summon residents as he urged dialogue.

“We need to strike a balance between the needs of residents and those of council. Residents have to pay what they owe council but payment plans are the best way forward.

“Proper engagement will instil a sense of ownership in the residents and council will also need to deliver quality service delivery on their part,” he said.