Online Reporter
Sione Amidu, Zimpapers Correspondent
THE Municipality of Gwanda will soon begin rolling out prepaid water meters, starting with 3 000 households, as part of a Government-driven programme to modernise water management and improve service delivery.
The transition to prepaid water metering is a national policy directive to all local authorities, aimed at strengthening revenue collection, improving water usage efficiency and ensuring sustainable water supply.
Under the prepaid system, residents and businesses will pay for water upfront, a move Government hope will prevent the accumulation of debt while allowing consumers to better plan their water usage according to affordability and need.
In an interview, Gwanda Mayor Alderman Thulani Moyo said the project is now at an advanced stage and will proceed as planned.
“This project cannot be tampered with. It is a Government directive and we are fully implementing it,” he said.
Ald Moyo acknowledged that an earlier pilot project failed due to meter tampering and the supplier’s failure to maintain the equipment.
“We faced challenges with the previous project. The meters were faulty and the supplier could not repair them. As a result, the pilot phase lasted less than 12 months and was eventually abandoned,” he said.
However, Ald Moyo said the new prepaid meters are equipped with improved technology and advanced anti-tamper mechanisms.
“If a consumer attempts to bypass or interfere with the device, the meter is designed to automatically lock itself,” he said.
The Mayor said the supplier will maintain a permanent presence in Gwanda to ensure prompt repairs and technical support.
“The new gadgets are expected to have a longer lifespan and the supplier has committed to having technicians on site throughout the duration of the contract and beyond. Vehicles have also been set aside to ensure rapid response to faults and meter-related issues,” said Ald Moyo.
He said the move is also aimed at improving the municipality’s revenue performance, with Government recommending a minimum collection rate of 80 percent.
“Currently, Gwanda Municipality is collecting about 30 percent of billed revenue, which severely affects service delivery across many areas,” he said.
The prepaid water meter project has been awarded to Bungane Investments, whose operations manager, Ms Priscillah Mvundla, said the company has successfully implemented similar systems in several towns.
“We have been rolling out this project for the past three years in towns such as Chegutu, Victoria Falls and Plumtree, and we are confident it will also succeed in Gwanda,” said Ms Mvundla.
She said the official rollout in Gwanda is scheduled to begin on 15 February, with the project expected to run for the next five years.
“We are happy to be working with Gwanda residents and the local authority. We will be on the ground throughout the project period to attend to any faults and provide ongoing technical support,” she said.
