Babbington Machingura Midlands Reporter
Gweru City Council is set to install prepaid water meters in 15 000 households by the end of the year.
In an interview, Gweru Town Clerk Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza said the council and the Gweru Ratepayers’ Association had agreed to start the first phase of installing prepaid water meters in the 15 000 households by the end of the year.
“We have engaged the Gweru Ratepayers’ Association and we have agreed to embark on a pilot project, which will see the council installing prepaid water meters in more than 15 000 households and we have engaged a company that will provide us with the equipment,” said Ms Gwatipedza
She said council was under pressure to offset a $23 million debt, which it owed power supplier, ZESA, that has threatened to disconnect it.
The city council is owed $58 million by residents.
“The other major reason why we have resolved to install prepaid meters is to raise money to pay the $23 million debt, which we owe our main suppliers of electricity (ZESA), who have threatened to disconnect us because of this debt, which is continuing to accumulate,” said Ms Gwatipedza.



