Kwekwe disconnects Redcliff water

A HEALTH hazard is looming in Redcliff Town after the Kwekwe City Council disconnected water to the mining town last week over a $9 million debt.

Redcliff Municipality recently committed to a payment plan of $5 000 per week to settle the debt but failed to honour its obligation resulting in Kwekwe City Council disconnecting water supplies.

Part of the debt was left by the now defunct Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (Zisco), which had an agreement with Kwekwe City Council to foot the water bill on behalf of the town.

Kwekwe Mayor Councillor Matenda Madzoke said they disconnected water supplies to Redcliff after the municipality failed to pay $5 000 per week which they had agreed on to through a payment plan.

“Redcliff owes us $9 million and is partly paying $5 000 per week towards settling the debt, at the same time we owe Zesa $12 million.

“We disconnected the water supplies because they haven’t paid for the past week,” said Clr Madzoke.

“The only way to force them to pay is disconnecting the water supplies like what we have done, so far they have deposited $2 500 into our account and we will restore if they pay the other half.”

Clr Madzoke said the local authority was also grappling with a $12 million debt to Zesa and the power utility has been threatening to disconnect Kwekwe City Council.

“We are also facing pressure from Zesa, they are threatening to disconnect our electricity, that’s why we disconnected water to Redcliff, we are trying to settle the Zesa debt using money from Redcliff,” said Clr Madzoke.

Redcliff Mayor Councillor Fred Kapuya insisted that Redcliff Municipality had paid a significant amount to Kwekwe City Council towards settling the debt and were hoping that they will be reconnected soon.

“Kwekwe Council disconnected water supplies to Redcliff over a longstanding debt but we have paid a certain amount and we hope they will reconnect us soon,” said Clr Kapuya.