Bulawayo Councillor Urges Residents to Settle Bills Amid Rising Debt Crisis

By Mbekezeli Ncube

Bulawayo Ward 26 Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo has called on residents to urgently settle their municipal bills, warning that the city’s growing debt burden is threatening service delivery and financial stability.

Speaking in his capacity as Chairperson of the Finance and Development Committee, Moyo revealed that the city’s debtors’ book has risen sharply, increasing from ZWG 2.47 billion at the end of February 2026 to over ZWG 2.52 billion by 31 March 2026.

Moyo said domestic consumers account for the largest share of the debt at 70 percent, with arrears amounting to ZWG 1.78 billion. Industrial and commercial users owe over ZWG 571 million, while government institutions account for ZWG 165 million.

“The ballooning debtors’ book is now a worrying concern to the City’s financial health and threatens seamless service delivery.

Cash flows are the lifeblood of every institution, and as a city we depend on revenue collection to provide adequate services,” said Moyo.

He highlighted that essential services such as water supply, waste management, and road maintenance require consistent funding.

“We provide clean running water, even under weekly shedding schedules, and that comes with costs for chemicals, water purchases and infrastructure repairs.

Our roads are also in a poor state, worsened by recent rains, and require millions of dollars to rehabilitate,” he said.

The councillor described the situation as a shared responsibility between the city and its residents.

“This is a clarion call for residents to pay off their debts. Adequate service delivery requires residents to play their part by paying for the services they receive. It’s a carrot-and-stick affair, we cannot deliver effectively without the necessary revenue,” he said.

Moyo also encouraged residents facing financial difficulties to engage the local authority and arrange payment plans.

“I am cognisant of the challenges some residents are facing, which is why we are urging them to come forward and make payment arrangements,” he said.

He added, “However, there are also those who simply neglect paying, and we appeal to them to honour their obligations.”

He further stressed the need for a shift in payment culture, noting that some residents prioritise subscriptions over municipal bills.

“We have seen residents consistently paying for services like DSTV, Starlink and Netflix, yet some are in arrears with the city.

We need an honest conversation failing to pay council bills is effectively sabotaging our own service delivery,” said Moyo.

He warned that without improved revenue collection, the city risks infrastructure collapse due to aging systems. Moyo added that the council has introduced online payment platforms to make it easier for residents to settle their accounts, urging them to take advantage of these options or seek assistance from their ward councillors.

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