(Last Updated on August 12, 2021 by zimdaily)

HARARE – The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) is owed a total of $2, 4 billion with the municipalities of Gwanda and Beitbridge owe $407 million out of a total $507 million which is owed by 92 local authorities in the country.

The money that the two councils owe Zinwa translates to 80 percent of more than $900 million water debt accrued by local authorities as at July 30, 2021.

Zinwa resorted to cutting water supplies to Gwanda and Beitbridge residents over the debt. Beitbridge Municipality owes Zinwa $198 284 024 accrued between January and July 2021 while Gwanda Municipalityhas an outstanding amount of $181 144 760.

In total, Zinwa is owed $2,4 billion by several Government departments that continue to receive portable water supply services from the parastatal albeit with many continuing to default on their payments.

Zinwa has 534 water supply stations which supply clear water amounting to 30, 8 million cubic metres and raw water amounting to 1,3 million mega litres annually.

Speaking in Parliament, the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Dr Anxious Masuka the debt has massively impacted negatively on the operational effectiveness and efficiency of the water utility.

“Beitbridge and Gwanda owe Zinwa $407 million out of the total $507 million owed by all the 92 municipalities in the country. These two owe 80 percent of the Zinwa debt for local authorities,” he said.

zimDaily

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