Residents owe council $40m

KADOMA Municipality is owed over $40 million by residents and other ratepayers, a situation that is affecting service delivery.

Over the past few years, the debt has continued to balloon.

The debt was pegged at $33 million as at December 31, 2017, but by March 31 this year, it had increased to $40,2 million.

In an interview, Kadoma town clerk Mr Malvern Dondo expressed concern over the rising debt.

“Council is owed $40 245 757 including land sales. If we remove land sales, the debt stands at $36 657 631, broken down as follows; residents, $15 686 386, commercial, $19 578 201 and institutional, $1 393 044 as at March 31, 2018,” he said.

Mr Dondo said plans were underway to re-introduce last year’s percentage based discount scheme to ratepayers whose accounts were up to date. The move is aimed at enticing debtors to pay up their dues.

“This year we have not been offering that scheme, but we hope to re-introduce it anytime soon. Last year we offered a 40 percent discount on those whose accounts that were up to date and a sizeable number of residents, corporate and other institutions took advantage of the discount to clear their arrears,” he said.