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Chinhoyi Residents Cry Foul Over Random Water Cuts


Most residents had their water disconnected Tuesday and Wednesday without any warning from the council's water department. (File Photo)
Most residents had their water disconnected Tuesday and Wednesday without any warning from the council's water department. (File Photo)
Chinhoyi Council this week intensified water disconnections in high density suburbs for late and non-payment of rates.

But residents are complaining that council is cutting off supplies even for the smallest of bills in order to raise money for local authority workers’ salaries and bonuses.

Most residents had their water disconnected Tuesday and Wednesday without any warning from the council's water department.

Those most affected are from the high density suburbs of Cold Stream, Chitambo, Gadzema and Chikonohono.

Local resident, Laxon Chemhere, said the council is trying to force residents to pay as little money as possible so that it would pay workers’ salaries and bonuses that are due this week.

Another Chikonohono resident, widow Simhan’a Tshuma, is not happy with the high water bill of $185 she received from council despite not being able to access water in the first weeks of this month.

Chinhoyi Council Acting Town Clerk Abel Gotora said residents in the town do not appreciate what the council has done for them, especially scrapping off bills in October, the second time in three months following the August debt write-off initiated by the government.

Gotora said residents seem to want free service delivery all the time from council, which he said the local authority cannot afford due to lack of funds.

Interestingly, Chinhoyi Council has been failing to provide all suburbs in the town with clean water for a while now but continues to bill them, much to the chagrin of the residents.
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