Terrence Mawawa

Masvingo City Council has threatened to engage the services of debt collectors to help the local authority recover millions of dollars in water arrears.

Masvingo City Council treasurer Thandiwe Dube told a local community radio station yesterday the city council was owed $ 7,3 million in unpaid water bills.

Dube said the residents would be given a grace period to clear the arrears.

“If the residents do not cooperate then we will engage the services of debt collectors,” said Dube.

Masvingo Residents’ Trust(MRT) has called for dialogue between the local authority and the concerned residents as part of efforts to resolve the impasse.

” We believe in dialogue and we hope the city council will invite all the concerned stakeholders to the negotiating table, ” said MRT in a statement.