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Blessings Chidhakwa in Kadoma
Kadoma City Council says lack of funding is stalling the installation of prepaid water meters, with a test run having been implemented four years ago.
The installation of the smart water meters is expected to improve revenue inflows, amid serious concern that ratepayers are not paying their bills.
Council officials have, however, argued that smart water meters would not be a permanent solution to improving revenue collection.
They said the devices would rather be of great use to infuse a culture of paying rates among residents.
Kadoma city director of finance, Mrs Faustina Zhou, said council had put the project on halt due to funding challenges.
“We are still sorting out funding, but once we get it the project is good to go,” she said. Mrs Zhou could not disclose the amount needed for the installation of more than 14 000 properties in the city, according to a recent property survey conducted by the local authoroty.
However, Engineer Bernatah Nhika said the local authority had already conducted a test run for the smart meters.
“Sometime between 2014 and 2015, that is when we conducted a test run for the installation of the prepaid meters, but as of last year, we only connected 48 out of 1 000 convectional meters,” he said.
Government last year outlawed the use of conventional water meters, declaring it mandatory for local authorities to install prepaid ones.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter