Zinwa installs prepaid water meters in Gwanda

Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) has completed the installation of four prepaid bulk water meters for Gwanda Municipality in an effort to curb the local authority’s ballooning water debt which is now about $10 million.

Zinwa’s corporate communications officer Mr Tsungirirai Shoriwa yesterday said the authority is owed over $134 million by local authorities, irrigators, parastatals, mines, industry and domestic consumers.

He said the situation has seen Zinwa failing to meet its statutory obligations such as the payment of taxes, levies, salaries and its creditors.

“We have installed four prepaid bulk water meters for Gwanda Municipality. These are not for the residential households, but for Gwanda Municipality, which obtains treated water from Zinwa for onward reticulation to the town’s residents.

“We installed the prepaid water meters after extensive consultations with Gwanda Municipality. Zinwa is owed in excess of $134 million. Of the $134 million, local authorities owe $36 million. We’re installing prepaid water meters for other local authorities who are not honouring their bills,” said Mr Shoriwa.

He added that water supplies can only be guaranteed if water users pay for the service before they receive it.

“Without payments, Zinwa finds it difficult to procure water supply requirements such as water treatment chemicals, electricity, water treatment plant spares as well as other accessories that allow for the reliable provision of water,” said Mr Shoriwa.

He appealed to water users whose accounts are in arrears to come up with practical ways to retire their debts to avoid the inconvenience associated with non payment such as litigation or disconnections.

Water supplies for a number of local authorities have been cut off on numerous occasions due to non-payment of water bills.

Local authorities across the country are saddled with debts owed by residents, industry and Government departments, and have used their predicament as justification for failing to pay Zinwa.