MDC-T review fight over pre-paid water meters

Opposition MDC-T has renewed its stance that is was against the planned installation of pre-paid water meters in Harare's households as it was 'illegal'.

Harare City council has vowed to forge ahead with the prepaid water meter project, despite massive resistance from residents' organisations that have been running campaigns to resist the prepaid water metering system.

Council said that the prepaid water metering system is in line with modern trends in water delivery management, and outlined that it will soon try out the project in the Central Business District (CBD), Avenues area, all council-owned buildings and selected Northern suburbs.

Such proposals have been rejected by Bulawayo residents, who claim that pre-paid meters are difficult to manage and won't end serious water shortages.

MDC-T national spokesperson Obert Gutu said the Local government minister Ignatius Chombo was  working in cahoots with council secretariat such as the town clerks of cities to implement the controversial project.

"The MDC wishes to make it clear that as a pro poor party, it is totally against the installation of prepaid meters to residents.

"The party maintains that clean water is a basic right for every one and should be made available without any conditions that would make it difficult for people to access," he said in statement.

He said the party position remain consistent with what was presented to CHRA by the Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora at a CHRA meeting a week ago.

"We want to categorically express that the issue of water meters is  an initiation of the central government through the Zanu-PF local government minister Ignatious Chombo, who ostensibly is working in cahoots with council secretariat such as the town clerks of cities.

"It is regrettable that Chombo's unorthodox move has completely sidelined the MDC councillors and therefore is illegal. The party will do everything possible to stop this illegal project meant to disenfranchise residents of a basic right like water.

"It is unreasonable in the first place for Chombo and the secretariat at the local authorities to embark on such a costly adventure which is set to prejudice the already struggling council coffers of millions of dollars when council is struggling to provide basic services to residents and even more so when council workers have gone for months without salaries.

Gutu said  Chombo and local authorities' secretariat must commit resource available to providing residents with basic services such as  provision of clean water and collection of refuse.