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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
MASVINGO City Council is owed $30 million in unpaid water bills and rates by residents, industry and government departments.

According to the latest council minutes, the debt has ballooned from $14 million that was owed to the local authority last year.

“It was reported that the debtors’ ledger to date was $30 million in unpaid bills. Council had an average collection rate of 65, 35 percent for billed services for the period under review,” reads part of the minutes.

The local authority said failure to settle water bills is crippling the city’s operations.

Masvingo Mayor Councillor Hubert Fidze said ratepayers should bear in mind that council survives from what they pay.

“The debt is increasing instead of decreasing and the trend is worrying us. Residents have outstanding bills which they are not paying and keep on accumulating. The debt also includes, money owed by corporates and government departments. We appeal to them to pay up even using a payment plan of their choice because we are not strict,” he said.

Town Clerk, Adolf Gusha said while the debt is ballooning, there appears to be hope at the end of the day.

“Yes, we’re owed $30 million. However, I would want to commend our debtors because they have improved on their rate of payment as our collection rate has increased from 25 percent to 65 percent now,” said Gusha.

He said they have reached a debt swap deal with government departments.

“Residents have also started to come to us with their payment plans and we accept that. We are also in agreement with Ministry of Finance in connection with debt swap which has gone a long way in offsetting debts that we owe our creditors,” he said.