Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
THE introduction of prepaid water meters in smaller towns has brought relief to ratepayers who were previously saddled with exorbitant bills, with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) successfully installing over 31 000 units so far.
Prepaid water meters have been hailed for promoting water conservation and providing greater financial control for both consumers and utility providers.
They allow users to pay for water in advance, preventing bill shock while encouraging mindful consumption.
For utilities, prepaid meters ensure revenue collection and reduce administrative costs associated with billing and debt management.
This comes as the Government now prepares to upgrade the systems to the larger towns and cities and install 600 000 prepaid water meters nationwide, starting with Harare.
To date, over 10 small towns which include Karoi, Gokwe, Mvurwi, Guruve, Nyanga, Murewa, Chivhu have gone digital, embracing smart meters as the country moves to modernise water infrastructure and improve revenue collection.
The Herald over the weekend visited three towns with ZINWA officials, where residents welcomed the prepaid meters as they had seen a reduction in the monthly water bills.
The ongoing roll-out of prepaid meters aligns with President Mnangagwa’s initiative of a ‘Call to action: no compromise to service delivery.’
This is aimed at modernising local authorities and driving efficient service delivery to propel Zimbabwe’s growth towards a middle-income economy by 2030.
“The water bill was always a mystery; we wondered where the big figures came from,” Tafirenyika Muketi from of Sasame 1, Gokwe said.
However, he noted that the situation changed with the installation of a prepaid water meter.
For Ms Normal Tamai, a supervisor at Tall Trees Lodge in Gokwe, the smart meter has reduced their bill by 36 percent.
“We are now paying US$160 per month, down from US$250, and this gives us 72 cubic meters of water, sufficient for our needs,” she said.
“This reduction has been a welcome relief, and considering we cater for an average of 12 clients daily, I believe the new billing system is fair and reflective of our actual water use.”
It also emerged that skepticism about adopting “smart” water meters was widespread in Gokwe, with many residents fearing it was a ploy to squeeze more money out of them.
“Almost everyone didn’t want this system at first, but now we don’t want to go back to the old system,” Constance Ramjee of Sasame 1, Gokwe said.
“There are five of us living here, and we used to constantly squabble over who used more water. Now, we contribute US$3 each, and that combined total is more than enough for the entire month.”
The prepaid meter system also features leak detection, which automatically switches off supply if a leak is detected, or if a tap is left running for more than two hours.
“Even if someone forgets to turn off a tap, the system is smart enough to know,” Ms Ramjee added.
“If water flows continuously for over two hours, it automatically switches off, so if you forget to close the tap at night, it switches off on its own.”
Her experience also resonates with fellow residents who, for years, faced similar anxieties with their water consumption in Karoi and Guruve.
“At one point, I had to travel to Zinwa’s head office because my bill was showing that I had used 40 cubic metres when I usually use about 15 cubic metres per month. I used a lot of money trying to fix the error,” Mr Bonface Nyakudya a Karoi resident said.
“But with this new system, you only use what you have bought and you can check the balance on your mobile phone.”
For Getrude Chademana of Chiyedza B Karoi, what seemed like a daunting change is a source of convenience.
“I wasn’t sure at first, but I am now paying just US$5 per month,” she said. “The best part for me is that my water doesn’t disappear if I don’t use it.”
Karoi Zinwa supply operator Brian Tembo said: “In Karoi, we have a total of about 7 000 clients.
“0So, when we did a roll-out for prepaid meters, we managed to install about 6 000 units.
“Some were not able to access the meters because they needed to do a new setup for their systems and some clients were not available.
“But for now, some of the clients are coming to us and they are requesting for the prepaid meters.”
The local company, Helcraw Electrical, which was recently roped in by
Government for the privatisation of water in Harare under a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model installed over 15 000 prepaid meters in Guruve, Gokwe, Karoi and Hwange.
Last year, communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said the roll-out of prepaid water meters in small towns, growth points and rural service centres where Zinwa provides services was progressing well, with the target of rolling out 35 000 meters within reach.
Meanwhile, Government is set to install prepaid meters nationwide in all major cities as it moves to empower residents to monitor and control their water consumption, promoting a more sustainable approach to resource management.
The model will also see raw water purification, distribution, billing and waste-water management handled by private firms, while smart meters will be installed at residential premises.
The programme will be first rolled out in high density suburbs across Harare, including in the satellite towns of Norton, Chitungwiza and Ruwa.
Smart meters have been installed in South Africa, Angola and eSwatini, among other countries.
Peter Tanyanyiwa