GWERU ratepayers owe the municipality ZiG700 million as at June 30, 2025 in unpaid bills, an increase of over $150 million in a space of two months since April, Southern Eye learnt.
Council assistant finance director, Owen Masimba, said the arrears were affecting key service delivery obligations in the Midlands capital.
"Debtors as at June 30, 2025 amounted to ZiG737 million," Masimba said at a mid-year budget performance review meeting.
"As at April 30, 2025, the total outstanding debt stood at $564,4 million.
“Now that it's now over $700 million by mid-year end reflects long standing non-payment by residents, institutions and businesses."
He added: "As at June 30, the largest debtors were domestic high-density owing council ZiG194 million, government departments ZiG121 million and commercial ZiG99 million."
Masimba said there was a need for ratepayers to make efforts to settle bills despite acknowledging the economic challenges that many face.
"But at the end of the day we are saying residents cannot expect efficient service delivery when they do not meet part of their bargain,” he said.
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“That is why we have always said our doors are open even for payment plans, but some residents do not make efforts to pay even a cent.
“We, however, commend ratepayers who are paying their bills."
He said the city has continued to face multiple challenges including low revenue collection, efficiency, aging infrastructure and increasing debtors.
"As a city we must innovate to survive but at the same time we urge residents to pay, otherwise we end up being forced to take drastic measures like attaching properties of ratepayers with outstanding bills," he said.
Gweru United Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Development Association Trust executive director, David Chikore, urged council to move to itemised bills arguing that it would encourage residents to pay.
"We prefer itemised bills to all ratepayers so that each ratepayer can authenticate the validity of the components that constitute his or her debt," Chikore said.
Over the years, some residents have been refusing to settle bills, arguing that estimated bills were not what they owed council.
