THE government last year argued that its directive to local authorities ordering them to write off outstanding utility bills would encourage ratepayers to keep their accounts up to date.
At the time almost every local authority in the country was battling to recover money for services rendered as the debts started accumulating during the switch from the Zimbabwe dollar to a multi-currency system.
Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development minister Ignatius Chombo’s argument then was that people were resisting paying bills because they were not happy with the way local authorities had converted their bills from the Zimdollar era.
Naturally, the argument gained traction because many residents were sinking in debt and the directive came as a huge relief. It also helped Zanu PF to win the July 31 elections overwhelmingly.
However, eight months after the debts were written off, the chickens are coming home to roost. A day does not pass without a local authority raising a red flag about a deteriorating financial situation linked to the debt cancellation.
Bulawayo, Harare and Victoria Falls are some of the councils that have found it difficult to pay their employees on time and to deliver services to expectations as a result of the loss of income.
The debt write-off also appears to have sent wrong signals to ratepayers that not paying bills on time is acceptable and the government endorses it. The bills have been accumulating since the July 2013 directive. But what is disconcerting is that government departments are the major culprits in this instance.
According to reports, Masvingo City Council is now contemplating taking the State institutions to debt collectors to recover debts as the money owed by ratepayers has ballooned to $21 million.
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Chombo should take responsibility for the consequences of his directive and lean on government departments to pay their bills on time.
Essential services in most local authorities are grounding to a halt because of neglect by the government and Chombo’s directive is exacerbating the dire situation.
