The City of Bulawayo is accelerating its shift to a paperless billing system after rolling out an e-billing platform amid mounting concern over an escalating debt burden now exceeding ZiG2,2 billion.
Municipal officials say the digital transition is part of broader efforts to improve ease of doing business and payment convenience, but it comes at a time when unpaid bills — largely from residents — are straining service delivery.
The city is owed more than ZiG2,27 billion by domestic, business and Central Government debtors, with residents accounting for nearly 71% of the total debt, businesses and commerce (23%), and government (6%).
Council’s assistant finance director Isaac Matare warned that the ballooning arrears are undermining operations.
“The debts owed to the city add up to ZiG2,27 billion and it is the residents who owe us the most,” Matare said.
“Residents owe almost 71% of the total debt while 23 percent of that is owed by businesses and commerce, and six percent is owed by government.”
He said the city had been using all means possible to recover the debt, including engagement with debtors, disconnection of water supplies, final demands, summons, and property attachment.
Matare dismissed claims that enforcement efforts were skewed towards vulnerable groups.
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“We are always told that we are targeting the poor in our debt recovery,” he said.
“ That is not true. We are targeting everyone including businesses and the government itself.”
Against this backdrop, the city is banking on digital systems to improve billing efficiency and compliance.
Web and cybersecurity officer Vusisizwe Sibanda said the municipality was digitising services to enhance accessibility and convenience.
Sibanda noted that the city’s website has a balance enquiry platform, but users must register first.
“We are also refining this by developing a system where you can register on your own, and that system will be ready in a few weeks,” he said.
“When you register, you will be given credentials that will enable you to access the portal on the website where your information and your property is captured.”
He added that uptake remains limited due to low registration levels, and encouraged more clients to share their information to receive bills digitally via email.
The e-billing platform, set to be launched soon, will complement existing online payment integrations with banks such as CABS, NMB, CBZ, BancABC and EcoCash, allowing residents and businesses to settle accounts remotely.
