adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
MASVINGO City Council is forging ahead with plans to introduce pre-paid water meters despite stiff resistance from residents, The Chronicle has learnt.
According to the latest council minutes, the city fathers suggested the introduction of pre-paid water meters to cushion themselves from outstanding water bills.
“The issue of water prepaid meters is still pending. Council is presently making inquiries on the cost of installation of the meters,” read part of the minutes.
The issue of prepaid water meters has stirred a lot of debate among human rights groups and residents with the Bulawayo City Council having introduced pre-paid meters in Cowdray Park on a pilot basis.
In Masvingo, city fathers are in full support of the new system while residents say pre-paid water meters would violate their rights to access water.
Masvingo Mayor Councillor Hubert Fidze said once the necessary equipment was in place, the programme would go ahead, as it was the only way council could improve on service delivery.
“As it is, we’re overburdened because of the money that residents, industry and government departments owe us in unpaid water bills. Instead of engaging debt collectors in order to recover the outstanding money from residents and other large debtors, pre-paid water meters could be the only way out,” said Clr Fidze in an interview.
He said if people could buy electricity before they use it, it’s also possible for residents to do the same with water. He said pre-paid meters would save a lot of work and expenses for council as no one will make a follow up or visit residents’ houses cutting water supplies.
“Once pre-paid water meters are introduced, we’ll be home and dry. I don’t think it would have a problem because we will be sure that residents use water that they would have paid for,” said the mayor.
“There won’t be any two ways about it, everyone will be using what he would have paid for and it has many advantages for residents. No-one would be charged for what he has not used as is the case now.”
Masvingo Residents Trust (MRT) coordinator Prosper Tiringindi promised to mobilise residents against council’s decision, which he slammed as unpopular.
He called on residents to resist the move, saying it was in violation of human rights.
“Water is a human right and we can’t allow council to deprive us of that right. We reiterate this, we say no to pre-paid water meters,” said Tiringindi.
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