The US$46,800 Masvingo Water Thief: How One Man Secretly Piped Council Water To His Home For 20 Years
A Bushmead Farm resident has been caught illegally tapping into Masvingo City Council’s water supply for 20 years, running up a debt of US$46,800 after reconnecting himself following a disconnection.
Black News 
The case came to light during a recent full council meeting when the Public Works and Housing Committee discussed an application for a formal water connection from a man identified only as L Chengeta.
Officials checked the records and found Chengeta had already been drawing water illegally from the main line for two decades.
The committee resolved to reject his application on the basis that he had connected himself without authorisation. It also instructed the finance director to refer the US$46,800 debt to management for recovery.
Councillors reacted with shock, and some called for his arrest. Ward 10 Councillor Sengerayi Manyanga said the water Chengeta had been taking was likely part of the “non-revenue water” the council records as lost each month.
Other councillors noted that the engineering department had advised the committee that the council could not bill for water still in the main line before it reaches storage tanks. That technicality may have spared Chengeta an even larger bill.
Town Clerk Edward Mukaratirwa revealed that Chengeta was originally connected years ago but failed to pay, which led to disconnection.
Chengeta then bypassed the system and reconnected himself illegally and continued using treated water as if he owned the pipeline.
After two decades, Chengeta applied for a legal reconnection. The council has turned him down and left management to decide how to recover the debt.
