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Innocent Ruwende Municipal Reporter

Harare City Council has been given the green light to disconnect water for defaulting residents without a court order provided it follows provisions of the Harare (Water) By-laws S.164/1913, which require that council gives 24 hours’ notice to affected parties before disconnections, the High Court has ruled.

The High court, however, said where the bill was genuinely disputed, there should be recourse at the courts before council disconnected the water supply to the consumer.

The court judgment is likely to spur massive domestic and industrial water disconnections to force residents and businesses who collectively owe the city in excess of $500 million to pay up their bills.

The court made the ruling in a case in which Harare lawyer, Mr Tinofara Hove who took Harare City Council to the High Court seeking to interdict the city from disconnecting his water supplies without a court order after accruing an $18 600 water bill.

Details to follow….