Bulawayo to go ahead with prepaid water meter installations

BULAWAYO City Council is going ahead with the installation of prepaid water meters despite resistance from some residents and civil organisations.

Last year, scores of residents, led by civil society organisations, protested against the city's move to introduce prepaid water meters in the city's suburbs.

Cowdray Park councillor Collet Ndlovu said the local authority has already ordered the prepaid water meters which, however, are still to be delivered.

He said the meters will be installed as soon as the council receives them.

"The prepaid meters will be installed in my area first. I don't know when they will be installed but the local authority is working on that," Clr Ndlovu said.

Residents expressed mixed feelings over the project.

Nomusa Nyoni, a resident in Cowdray Park's Segment Five, applauded the local authority for the latest development.

She said the prepaid meters will help end water challenges in their area.

"If these meters are installed on each and every household, we'll be happy. We're tired of joining long queues just to fetch water. Besides queuing, we've to travel for about 300 metres or more just to get to the nearest water source where we spend hours queuing," Nyoni said.

She said some residents were resorting to the bush system to relieve themselves due to the water woes.

Another resident who identified herself as MaMoyo said prepaid water meters would help curb an outbreak of waterborne diseases.

"We can't do without water. Prepaid water meters are the way to go. The water challenges in our suburb put us at risk of cholera outbreaks and other waterborne diseases," said MaMoyo.

However, Patrick Nkomo, a resident of the same suburb, said the installation of prepaid water meters was inhuman.

"The prepaid water meter system will worsen our suffering. We can hardly afford to make a living from the little that we earn. The introduction of prepaid water meters will be adding to our burden. It's easy to substitute things like electricity but you can't substitute water," he said.

Nkomo said the city council should install the old water meters, if it wanted to provide water to residents of Segment Five.

Last year, Bulawayo City Council senior public relations officer Nesisa Mpofu said prepaid water meters were an advantage to both residents and the local authority.

"It puts you in control of your budget. There will be no more surprises caused by high water  bills. You can buy water to suit your pocket and your water will not be cut off unexpectedly," she said.

Environment, Water and Climate Minister Saviour Kasukuwere last year said there was no going back on the national move to install prepaid water meters.