Chitungwiza Municipality warns residents on illegal sewer fees collection

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

 

Chitungwiza Municipality logo

Chitungwiza Municipality has warned its residents of rogue elements who are illegally demanding some funds to fix sewer problems in the area after making investigations on the matter.

Some residents have fallen victim to unscrupulous Council employees who demand US$2 and above for sorting the evil-smelling sewer, and the Municipality also said there are some bogus elements who are masquerading as Council employees to defraud the residents.

Some residents have also complained of having been charged more than US$20.

In a statement, Acting Town Clerk Mr. Japson Nemuseso said the bogus elements are collaborating with some residents and lying that they are doing so on behalf of the council.

“These funds collected never reach us, and we wish to state clear that we have no agents in this regard. In this instance, we can not rule out that a few individuals among our employees are involved in such malpractice,” he said.

He also said that they only request payments at their revenue collection halls, not any upfront payment for any service.

For anyone who demands cash upfront from residents on behalf of the Council, Nemaseso said they should insist on seeing their Council Identification Card.

Chitungwiza continues to experience incessant sewer blockages and overflows despite having received above US$1 million in 2020 under the African Development Bank’s ZimFund for sewer reticulation.