BULAWAYO – Bulawayo mayor Solomon Mguni says the city is owed a total ZW$31.4 billion in outstanding bill payments by rate payers whom he implored to discharge their obligations to enable the local authority to deliver smooth service to their benefit.
Mguni revealed this in a Christmas message to residents and other stakeholders.
The city father however promised better service delivery to residents in 2023.
He said smooth service delivery shall be anchored significantly on the authority’s strong relations with local business and stakeholder groupings for the development of the city.
Mguni said council will enhance its efforts in creating a clean and environmentally friendly city as plans were underway to improve collection of refuse from residential and commercial areas, as well as the Central Business District (CBD) through community engagement.
The mayor said his council has engaged relevant stakeholders on provision of water which is currently erratic and is worsened by recent electricity challenges which have affected pumping and water treatment works.
The mayor urged residents to timeously fulfil their rate payment obligations to the authority adding that delayed payment often reduces council’s capabilities to deliver smooth service to residents.
“The year 2022 presented many challenges to the City of Bulawayo as municipal service delivery was negatively impacted by the national economic climate. Regrettably, many consumers failed to fulfil their financial obligations to the council,” Mguni said.
Beneficiaries of council services, who include government, industry, commerce and residents continue to default in the payment of services leading to challenges in sourcing service delivery inputs thereby negatively affecting service delivery, the mayor said.
“As a Council, I assure you of our unwavering commitment to the provision of improved municipal services in 2023. To achieve this mandate, we must each recommit ourselves to the development of the city,” he said.
The mayor added that his council remained committed to good governance and will not entertain corrupt dealings and underperformance by both councillors and staff.