Harare Starts Massive Water Disconnections
by Debra Matabvu
Zimbabwe Sunday Mail
Sunday, Aug 9, 2015
Harare City Council will this Wednesday embark on a massive water disconnection exercise to customers owing the local authority any amount above US$100 as the city seeks to recover over US$70 million owed by residents and companies.
The move is in defiance to a High Court ruling that outlawed Section 8 of the Water By-law Statutory Instrument 164 which empowered local authorities to cut water supplies arbitrarily in the absence of a court order.
Last year, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu issued an order against disconnecting water supplies to defaulting customers arguing the action was in breach of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Section 77.
The reference to the supreme law was made after a lawyer Mr Farai Mushoriwa took Harare City Council to court after being disconnected of water over a US$1 600 debt.
The lawyer argued that the Constitution of Zimbabwe Section 77 provides water as a basic right that should be accessed by every person.
Harare City Council has since approached the courts challenging the setting aside of the order and judiciary is yet to make a ruling.
However, information gathered by The Sunday Mail shows that Harare City Council will this week disconnect water supplies to defaulters.
The local authority has since June this year taken over 4 000 defaulting customers to court while at least 1 000 warrants to attach properties have been issued to water debtors.
Harare City Council water distribution and customer services manager, Engineer Hosiah Chisango said water disconnections would be effected despite a court ruling against the move.
“We made an appeal on the court ruling and the ruling is yet to be made, but we cannot wait for the ruling so we are continuing with disconnections,” he said.
“We have come up with an action plan and the exercise will be done in all residential suburbs. We are hoping to collect as much as we can so that we boost the local authorities coffers.
“We will disconnect for customers with debts ranging from $100 upwards. We will also be issuing summons worth more than US$40 million and warrants worth US$33 million in all residential suburbs in Harare,” he added.
Warrants of execution will be served to residents in Mt Pleasant, Westlea, Kambuzuma, Highfield, Malbourough, Rugare and Budiriro.
Engineer Chisango said the massive water cuts were in line with the council vision to improve service delivery to Harare residents.
Business expert, Mr Kingstone Khanyile said it was important that council provide efficient services to match the amounts they are charging customers.
“There is need for a balancing act between the service provided and revenue collection. The reason why council is pushing for a massive water disconnection now is because they have not been providing efficient services. It should be the norm that customers pay for services provided,” he said.
Harare is owed a cumulative US$360 million by debtors for water and other services.
Zimbabwe Sunday Mail
Sunday, Aug 9, 2015
Harare City Council will this Wednesday embark on a massive water disconnection exercise to customers owing the local authority any amount above US$100 as the city seeks to recover over US$70 million owed by residents and companies.
The move is in defiance to a High Court ruling that outlawed Section 8 of the Water By-law Statutory Instrument 164 which empowered local authorities to cut water supplies arbitrarily in the absence of a court order.
Last year, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu issued an order against disconnecting water supplies to defaulting customers arguing the action was in breach of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Section 77.
The reference to the supreme law was made after a lawyer Mr Farai Mushoriwa took Harare City Council to court after being disconnected of water over a US$1 600 debt.
The lawyer argued that the Constitution of Zimbabwe Section 77 provides water as a basic right that should be accessed by every person.
Harare City Council has since approached the courts challenging the setting aside of the order and judiciary is yet to make a ruling.
However, information gathered by The Sunday Mail shows that Harare City Council will this week disconnect water supplies to defaulters.
The local authority has since June this year taken over 4 000 defaulting customers to court while at least 1 000 warrants to attach properties have been issued to water debtors.
Harare City Council water distribution and customer services manager, Engineer Hosiah Chisango said water disconnections would be effected despite a court ruling against the move.
“We made an appeal on the court ruling and the ruling is yet to be made, but we cannot wait for the ruling so we are continuing with disconnections,” he said.
“We have come up with an action plan and the exercise will be done in all residential suburbs. We are hoping to collect as much as we can so that we boost the local authorities coffers.
“We will disconnect for customers with debts ranging from $100 upwards. We will also be issuing summons worth more than US$40 million and warrants worth US$33 million in all residential suburbs in Harare,” he added.
Warrants of execution will be served to residents in Mt Pleasant, Westlea, Kambuzuma, Highfield, Malbourough, Rugare and Budiriro.
Engineer Chisango said the massive water cuts were in line with the council vision to improve service delivery to Harare residents.
Business expert, Mr Kingstone Khanyile said it was important that council provide efficient services to match the amounts they are charging customers.
“There is need for a balancing act between the service provided and revenue collection. The reason why council is pushing for a massive water disconnection now is because they have not been providing efficient services. It should be the norm that customers pay for services provided,” he said.
Harare is owed a cumulative US$360 million by debtors for water and other services.
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