Prepaid water meters to be rolled out countrywide

Sunday News Reporters
PRE-PAID water meters will soon be rolled out countrywide as a means to ensure that local authorities finance their own activities as Government is no longer in a position to avail grants to councils, a Government official has said.

Addressing representatives of local authorities in the country at a 2016 budget preparation symposium at a Bulawayo hotel last week, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Engineer George Mlilo said the country was in a “cash economy” hence pre-paid water meters were an ideal business model for local authorities.

The development, however, sets the tone for the battle between local authorities and residents, as residents are against the installation of pre-paid water meters. In Bulawayo, residents last month marched in the city to protest against council’s intended move to introduce pre-paid water meters.

“Water which is at Zambezi (river) is a right for everyone. It is for free. If the water has been bottled or brought to your tap, you have to pay for it. There are groups of people who are against the installation of pre-paid water meters as water is a social right. But, we have to understand that we are living in a cash economy,” said Eng Mlilo.

“A month billing system left Tel One and Net One suffering or on the brink of collapse. Econet which was first to introduce the pre-paid calling system performed well. Your business approach must be in that manner hence your water must be pre-paid.

Times are hard and the Government is not in a position to give you grants hence pre-paid water meters will go a long way in improving your revenue collection.”

Minister Saviour Kasukuwere recently gave Gwanda Municipality the go ahead to install pre-paid water meters to help them cut costs and generate more revenue that will assist the local authority to settle its $7 million debt it owes to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa).

Urban Development Corporation organised the meeting to capacitate local authorities on how best they should draft their budgets. The organisation’s vice-chairperson, Mr Risipa Kapesa, said most of the costs incurred by local authorities were in the purification of water.

“The introduction of pre-paid water meters is inevitable. Pre-paid water meters should be introduced. Chemicals which are used in the purification of water are expensive and the revenue which is generated from water supplies is not enough to pay for cost incurred. Through pre-paid water meters, local authorities will be able to generate more revenue as people will be paying for what they consume,” said Mr Kapesa.

Meanwhile, Gwanda town council has vowed to go ahead with the pre-paid water meters despite resistance from residents.

The local authority revealed that it was now waiting for the supply tender to be approved by the State Procurement Board.

Gwanda Mayor Councillor Knowledge Ndlovu said the town was more than ready to install pre-paid water meters although residents were against the project.

“Gwanda cannot be left out in this project because some of the local authorities are moving towards installing water meters despite protests from residents. Some of the residents are willing to take the project into action though some certain individuals are opposing. It is their democratic right to oppose but we are going ahead with the pre-paid water meters,” said Clr Ndlovu.