Mutare City owed US$35m

City of Mutare is owed ZiG946 million (US$35.3 million) by residents, institutions and other rate payers, with Government departments and public bodies among the biggest debtors.

The amount increased from ZiG587.8 million recorded during the first half of 2025 to ZiG946 million during the same period this year.

Presenting the council’s half-year financial performance during the State of the City Address on Monday, Town Clerk Blessing Chafesuka said unpaid bills were straining council operations.

“The highest debtor is the Ministry of Defence which owes us ZiG75 451 147. We have other government institutions that have not paid council since 2023. It is now straining our operations,” said Chafesuka.

The Ministry of Defence is the council’s biggest debtor, owing ZiG75.4 million (US$2.8 million), followed by Mutasa Rural District Council with ZiG32.8 million (US$1.2 million) and Mutare Police with ZiG18.5 million (US$694 279).

Other major debtors include Mutare Rural Camp, which owes ZiG9.9 million (US$371 957), Manicaland Agricultural Society with ZiG5.7 million (US$215 108), Destiny of Africa Network with ZiG5.1 million (US$193 645) and the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) with ZiG4.5 million (US$171 763).

The council’s top 10 debtors owe a combined ZWG163 million (US$6.1 million), with government departments and public bodies dominating the list.

Residential high-density areas and institutions were the largest categories contributing to the outstanding debt, accounting for 25% and 20% respectively.

Last year, the local authority reported receivables of ZiG587.8 million during the first half-year budget performance review, with government departments also among its biggest debtors.