Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
RESIDENTS of Ward 14 in Harare Central are expected to convene this Saturday for a feedback meeting focused on service delivery issues affecting their communities.
The meeting will be held at Kambuzuma Section 5 Crèche and is aimed at providing residents with an opportunity to engage directly with their elected representatives on key local development matters.
Ward 14 Councillor Costa Mande said the decision to hold the meeting in Kambuzuma Section 5 was part of efforts to bring council closer to residents across the ward.
“We chose Kambuzuma Section 5 to get closer to residents from that side. We usually hold our meetings in Section 2,” said Cllr Mande.
“We chose Kambuzuma 5 to get closer to residents from that side. We usually hold meetings in Section 2,” he said.
“We also hold meetings at Magamba hall to cover an area in Warren Park in my ward as well as Belvedere West.”
Cllr Mande said the meeting will discuss the issue of smart water meters that have just been installed in Kambuzuma, how they work and the City of Harare’s relationship with Helcraw Water.
He said the whole of Kambuzuma has had smart water meters installed except for Westwood and Belvedere West.
“Kambuzuma sections 1 to 6 and Warren Park have had meters installed. There are cases where some did not have their meters installed as our teams could not access their homes; those are some of the selected cases that we have,” said Cllr Mande..
“We urge them to visit our offices.”
He said residents who were complaining about estimated bills are very happy that now they are going to be charged what they would have used.
“I think most of the residents are appreciative, though there are a select few who would want to benefit without paying anything.
“And some probably, they are not yet understanding the concept that the council is trying to do because we are saying once we bill for something that someone did not use, then it will violate the Act,” said Cllr Mande.
“So that’s why we brought the prepaid water meters and so that we can recover funds to cover the infrastructure development and repairs to the supply distribution of the water.”
He said water pipe replacement has started in Warren Park and there are ongoing works at that site.
Cllr Mande said the meeting will also give an update on the water pipe replacement. He said there were major leaks in Warren Park.
“However, as of now, because of the prepaid water meters that were installed, there is less usage of water, thereby increasing the pressure in the pipes,” said Cllr Mande.
“So you would see that at this moment we are having more leakages being experienced. So we are working flat out to make sure that all the weak points have been addressed and the pipes are addressed.”
He said the meeting will also discuss roads, tap water availability, sewerage issues, residents’ water, sewer, and refuse bills, and social services.
