HARARE - Despite the fact that the High Court has outlawed water disconnections, Harare City Council (HCC) says it will continue disconnecting water to squeeze defaulters into settling their bills.
HCC spokesperson Michael Chideme said in a statement that the city authorities are owed more than $400 million by defaulters.
“Harare City is intensifying water disconnections and issuance of summons at all premises in arrears of the current bill. Residents with paid up current bills will not have their water disconnected.
“All debtors are urged to make payment arrangements with council to offset their debts. Council needs all residents to be rates-compliant for it to be able to discharge its service delivery mandate,” said Chideme.
Last year, the High Court described Section 8 of the water by-law under Statutory Instrument (SI) 164 of 1913 which gives local authorities the power to disconnect defaulting residents, as illegal as it was ultra vires the Constitution.
Section 77 of the Constitution classifies clean water and food as basic rights.