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Residents overcharged for 20 years!
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
Extracted from The Resident Issue 35
June 07, 2004

Residents at a block of flats in Avondale were this month shocked to discover that the electricity tariffs they paid for the last 2 decades were commercial tariffs. Speaking at the CHRA Executive Committee meeting held on 7 May 2004, Mr. M. Leppard, a representative of the Avondale Residents, Ratepayers and Tenants Association stated that the issue only came to light this month when the residents paid off their monthly tariffs.

From what Mr. Leppard could gather, the charge had arisen from the fact that one of the properties at the block was being used for commercial purposes. "It is important that residents in the Avenues and other blocks of flats know about this." Mr. Leppard said "ZESA charges commercial fees for the entire block if any part of it has been registered for commercial use and pays its tariffs on commercial rates."

This development presents worrying prospects for residents living in cluster establishments within the city. Already there have been problems with regards water tariffs and other rates for people leaving in separately owned apartments. Residents in Gleanagles Court, Selous Avenue had to go without water for two weeks after council cut off supply to the whole block owing to some residents who had not paid up their water charges for the month in 2003.

Protracted efforts from the Gleanagles Tenants Association ensured that the block of flats was reconnected and a special provision was made for tariffs and rates to be paid alongside the monthly lease charged on individual tenants. Other blocks of flats have different means of settling their tariffs.

You have been warned!

Visit the CHRA fact sheet

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