GOVERNMENT has directed Mulonga Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) to immediate suspend disconnections of water supply exercise and write-off all historical bills inherited from the previous service provider organizations such as Municipal councils and Nkana water and Sewerage Company (NWSC).
Ministry of Local Government and Housing Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga said this following the resolutions made when he held meeting with MWSC customers in Mufulira to hear first-had grievances.
“Disconnections have been suspended forthwith until customer’s complaints are resolved in the affected areas” Mr Malupenga said.
The main complaint that was raised by MWSC customers were historical bills which the water utility inherited from the previous service previous service provider organizations as Municipal councils and Nkana water and Sewerage Company (NWSC).
Other bills incurred in times when there was completely no water supply over a period of time for the customers that are on fixed billings, while customers on fixed billing accounts whom water supply were disconnected bills still comes out.
On resolutions Mr Malupenga also directed to write-off bills generated on fixed bills subject to determination of period when there was no water supply.
Mr Malupaenga said to customers who are already disconnected on the recent bills should be given chance to agree on terms of payments before reconnections is done.
And MWSC Public Relations Manger Debora Kagende urged customers to come forward to ensure they benefit from these resolutions which has been made after the meeting in Mufulira.
Ms Kangende said MWSC will follow problems when effecting these resolutions so customers are requested to bring along with following documents:
1. Tenants – National Registration Card (NRC), tenant agreement and most recent water bill.
2. Landlord – National Registration Card (NRC), tile deeds and most recent water bill.
“MWSC advises its customers that the bills for the month of June were already printed and some dispatched before these resolutions were made and therefore, some amounts that maybe subject to be written of still reflect on the already dispatched bills” Ms Kangende said.
As far as I know Mulonga had been there for at least 15 years. There’s no way bills over 15 years old can still be contentious and uncollected. Chakolwa is just buying time to get some votes from these residents. If he wins in August then he will “fall on these people like a tonne of bricks”, the way he has treated The Post.
I agree – this total confusion from too much alcohol! After 11 Aug, it be “as you were” – bills restated and people will know that it is Donchi Kubeba once more!!
I also agree. Problem is most Zambians are fools – particularly, the Copperbelt & Lusaka dwellers who are sadly perceived to be more civilized than the rest of Zambia. Every sensible Zambian can easily see that this all but a political game to woo votes.
@ Black Teeth. For your Information, Mulonga Water was not servicing the customers in Mufulira until a few years ago. Initilally, the residents of Mufulira were service by AHC, after the fall of ZCCM. After AHC, the services were handled over to Nkana Water and Sewerage Company and then finally Mulonga Water. Get the facts right people, dont just blog for the sake of blogging
And you wonder why we dont move forward …how can the govt simply write off bills…what a disgrace!!
THESE WATER UTILITIES OPERATE AS AUTONOMOUS UNITS, WITH A BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT IS ANWERABLE TO THE MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVT AND HOUSING. HOW DOES A HEAD OF STATE OVERLOOK THE BOARD AND MAKE SUCH A DIRECTIVE? NOWONDER WE HAVE SERIOUS GOVERNANCE PROBLEMS IN ZAMBIA. WRITING OFF MEANS REDUCING THE PROFITABILITY OF THE COMPANY, HOW WILL THE EMPLOYEES GET THEIR SALARIES? LET ALONE OPERATIONAL EXPENSES, HOW WILL THEY BE MET? GOVT CANT SIMPLY WRITE OFF BILLS, MWEBANTU,BUSHE NI TUNTEMBA?
Thats why educated executive mayors are required. The councils will run like autonomous commercial entities. No levies or fees should be written off by any politician. You consume services, you pay for them.