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By Lovemore Chazingwa
The city of Kadoma, which was switched dry when the national power supplier, Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), pulled the plug on its Claw Dam shore pump and water treatment plant last Friday, has moved to service the debt and restore normal supplies.
The local authority owes Zesa a staggering ZW$68 million.
According to council finance director Faustina Zhou, the power utility owes the local authority ZW$6.7 million. The move by ZETDC has dealt the local authority a heavy body blow.
City fathers were caught off guard, jerking them into panic mode.
Water flows are said to have been restored Tuesday evening after suits at the townhouse paid ZW$10 million towards setting off the debt arrears.
This, after experiencing intense pressure from stakeholders to restore sanity in the city water supply situation. Another ZW$4 million is to be paid this Friday, according to the acting mayor, Cllr Tendai Kokera.
“We’ve managed payment of ZW$10 million today (Tuesday) and another ZW$4 million will be paid on Friday. We also urge our debtors to pay their dues to enable us to honour our obligations. We have a user payment plan that we will commit to,” Cllr Kokera said soon after emerging from a depleted routine full council meeting Tuesday.
Contacted, Zesa stakeholder relationship manager Dr. George Manyaya was playing the confidentiality card.
“Contractually, we cannot discuss client details with the public as this will be breaching confidentiality. You can call them and get a comment. Surely it will not be as per the statement,” he said.
The city power plugs down emanated from a ZETDC northern region’s credit control measures for defaulting customers.
“”ZETDC would like to advise it’s valued customers in the northern region that the region is currently implementing credit control measures for defaulting customers. To avoid being disconnected, clients are advised to settle their bills,” reads part of a notice of power disconnection to defaulters.”
However, the Government-run power concern has extended a seven-day moratorium to defaulting customers to reconcile, pay bills, and/or clear accounts.
In response, the City of Kadoma issued a scouring notice to stakeholders on the development.
“The City of Kadoma regrets to inform all its valued residents, ratepayers, and stakeholders that the Claw Dam shore pump station and the water treatment plants have been switched off by ZETDC for overdue electricity bills. As a result, the council is not able to treat water. We are therefore, unable to provide potable water until we resume treatment and pumping.
“We are engaging ZETDC and as we continue to engage them, please bear with us as we try to rectify the situation during this unfortunate period. We will keep you informed of progress in our engagement,” a notice on water supply interruption from the public relations desk says.
Chamber secretary Willard Mangwengwende, who was engaged in a series of meetings on the issue said the situation was under control.
“For rates and services rendered, Zesa owes ZW$6.7 million. Power has been restored following engagement with ZESA. The engagement process involved all important parties in and outside the council. We’re working on an improved payment plan which will enable us to retire the debt. It is important that our residents and ratepayers also meet their council bills to enable us to honour our payment plan with our creditors such as ZETDC to name just one.”
Council said residents owe it more than a billion dollars in debt. The city hall was inundated with calls for the local authority to ensure that stakeholders have the precious liquid which, of late has become a scarce commodity in the city.
Some vented their anger on the council through social media platforms alluding to misplaced priority by the powers that be.
Recycled issues of purchasing luxury vehicles and attending worthless workshops for and by management at the expense of service delivery dominate social discussion fora.