Bulawayo City Council embarks on water disconnections despite High Court ruling

Bulawayo City Council has embarked on a massive disconnection of water supplies to residents owing the local authority $300 despite a Harare High Court ruling which upheld previous rulings that disconnecting water supplies is illegal without a court order.

Even though The Chronicle could not reach Bulawayo Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube and Mayor Martin Moyo for a comment an official from the local authority confirmed that they recently sent SMSs to residents reminding them to clear their arrears or risk having water supplies disconnected. The official also revealed that those whose supplies are disconnected were required to pay at least half the outstanding amount for supplies to be resumed and they have to come up with a payment plan to clear the balance.

Bulawayo United Residents’ Association Chairperson Mr Winos Dube also said that he had received reports that water supplies have been cut off in many suburbs including eastern suburbs to force residents to clear arrears.