Harare To Install Prepaid Water Meters

Harare City Council (HCC) Mayor, Hebert Gomba has said that the local government authority is planning to install prepaid water meters as a debt recovery measure.

Speaking to New Zimbabwe, Gomba said that their prepaid water system will operate like the ZESA prepaid metre system which automatically deducts a predetermined percentage when customers recharge their accounts. He added:

If you look into these deals we want to get into, they involve prepaid water meters. So we have to find a way to install prepaid meters which will enable us to collect the debt from that. We are looking at maybe 10% of every transaction, we will have to look and consider things closely given the amounts people can be able to pay. The debt will be spread over a period.

The HCC has over a long period of time planning to install prepaid water meters but had to delay after residents and their representatives constantly shot the idea down.

They argued that the metres would deprive residents of their right to water as enshrined in Section 77 of the Constitution. Residents argued that the system disconnects water for those who would not have paid which will likely cause an outbreak of many diseases.

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