Gweru City Council mayor Martin Chivhoko has expressed concern over the ballooning debtors bill which currently stands at over ZiG$1 billion saying council has been left with no option, but to take legal action against defaulters as the debt is crippling service delivery.
As at February this year the total debt stood at ZiG$927 million marking an increase of over ZiG$300 000 in a space of four months.
Speaking at a full council meeting on Monday, Chivhoko said defaulters would be given two weeks as from June 16 to settle outstanding balances to avoid risking being taken to the courts.
“Our debtors book is standing at over $1,2 billion Zimbabwe dollars,” Chivhoko said.
“For better service delivery we need revenue and it is difficult to deliver without money and so we are left with no option but to take legal action.
“If you owe council counting from June 16, 2026, we are giving you a 14-day time frame to clear your bills.
“For those staying in council houses we are also giving you a 14 day time frame to clear your bills, failure to do so council will repossess the houses.”
But Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) director, Cornelia Selipiwe, said while council was right to push residents to honour their bill obligations, taking the legal route should be the local authority’s last resort.
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“I think it is good for council to push people to pay,” Selipiwe said.
“We need to pay as residents because we have a responsibility to do so if we expect council to deliver services, but we are however against the idea that they intend to take legal action against residents.”
Selipiwe added: “We need to understand the economic challenges that people are facing. We don’t have disposable income.”
The GRRA boss said instead council should make arrangements for payment plans.
“Instead of threatening to deal with defaulting residents by legal means or by repossessing council houses, the city fathers should have gone as far saying that those who owe council should come up with payment plans.”
Selipiwe said taking residents to court over outstanding bills should be council’s last resort after all avenues including payment plans and dialogue have been exhausted.
