Masvingo city waives interest on bills

MASVINGO City Council has extended a five percent waiver on interest accrued on outstanding water bills by residents to December this year.

This was after the expiry of the initial waiver at the end of January this year.

Council has also shelved plans to hand over 1 866 defaulters to debt collectors to encourage them to settle their outstanding dues. The five percent waiver was proposed by the city treasure Mrs Thandiwe Dube during the last full council meeting.

“It was reported that the reprieve on interest on overdue accounts expired in January 2019,” reads the minutes of the meeting. “The city treasurer, Mrs Dube was recommending that council extends the grace period to December 31, 2019.

“On handing over 522 debtors who had not paid any monies towards their bills since 2015 and the 1 344 defaulters who failed to respond to letters of final demand, it was agreed that council would conduct awareness campaigns.

“This was done to encourage residents to settle their outstanding debts before handling them over to debt collectors.”

Town Clerk, Mr Adolf Gusha was instructed to prepare for the road shows and flight advertisements in the local media, advising residents of the need to settle their outstanding debts.

It was suggested that a mobile Public Address System and some regalia should be availed, to ensure that the exercise is a success.

Masvingo United Ratepayers and Residents Alliance hailed the move by council, saying it had listened, to the “voice of reason”.