Brunette Tshuma
Bulawayo residents are frustrated with the Bulawayo City Council’s (BCC) utility billing system, citing a lack of transparency. Consumers want to know the details of their bills, but the current system fails to provide this information.
Sibanda expressed the concern, saying, “It makes us relax in terms of making payment, thinking that everything is well, whereas if you’re seeing your debt, you will know that I have to pull up my stockings.”
Mrs. Mhlanga added, “Their old system was good because after making payments, subtractions were made there and then, deducting my debt. Now, if they give me the receipt, how am I supposed to know my debt because I don’t pay every time?”
The consultative inquiries introduced to address this issue have been ineffective, with citizens facing challenges in getting their concerns heard. Moyo said, “I wanted to know my balance before making payments, but I couldn’t as the attendant kept on going out to attend to other matters.”
Residents have also expressed frustration with the City Council’s response to their inquiries. A woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “Worse, they don’t care about us when we try to enquire about how we reached the amount due on my paper; rather, they care if you’re enquiring about payment making.”
The issue is further complicated in shared bill scenarios, particularly in suburban areas. Moyo explained, “I care about this so much because we stay as tenants only, and we share the bill. I have to provide proof of payment and also brief others on the debt to be paid.”
Residents have struggled to keep up with their bills due to the inconsistent notification system, with bills often arriving 2-3 months late. Mrs. Mhlanga said, “I come to make payments, only to find a different figure in the system without even knowing how we got there. I then just assume they have added extra charges to the actual amount.”
Bulawayo Public Relations Officer Mrs. Nesisa Mpofu acknowledged the issue, attributing it to faulty old modem machines. “We’re having trouble with our old machines, which do not have multi-currency receipting modules; that’s why we cannot show you how much you’re owing because people are paying using different currencies.”
Mrs. Mpofu promised to address the problem, stating that new computers have been procured and will arrive soon.
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