Reliable, clean and consistent water supply before prepaid metres - Kasukuwere

Minister of Local government housing and public works Saviour Kasukuwere has declared the government position on topical urban government issues particularly on the on going prepaid water metres issue.

In a speech read by his deputy on his behalf at the National Service Delivery summit held in the capital yesterday, Kasukuwere said that government emphasises local authorities to first ensure that they provide, clean, reliable and consistent water before considering prepaid water metres. Minister Kasukuwere's assertion is likely going to give the prepaid metres a new dimension as it is an echo of what the residents have been saying in their resistance of the metres.

"There is a need to provide reliable, clean and consistent water services before this program can be rolled out," said Kasukuwere.

The Minister further allayed residents and stakeholders fears when he told the gathering that the prepaid metres will only be rolled out after intensive consultation and agreement between local authorities and the residents.

"The position of government is that there must be an intensive debate between local authorities and their citizens before they implement prepaid meters. The policy frameworks demand that there be agreement between the major stakeholders," he said.

The Minister further encouraged local authorities to work very closely with residents associations and stakeholders in trying to solve the difficulties that the country is going through.

"Government is happy that residents associations are taking the step to debate and come up with suggestions that policy makers can use to make laws."

On the issue of vendors which is a concern for all local authorities and government, Kasukuwere urged local authorities to engage with the vendors and relocate them to designated vending sites.

"The issue of the informal economy now demands that the cities have serious engagements with these groups, that they are properly registered and that they are organised so that they can speak on their own."

"The local authorities must built and relocate these groups to proper vending sites."

The Minister called on everyone concerned to understand that vendors can make a contribution to the economy if they are properly organised but taking hid to maintain organised and clean cities.

"However, we must also find a balance between clean cities and the need for vending."

Contributing to the issue of housing and urban land management, Kasukuwere said that government was coming up with a plan to build low cost housing units for councils to reduce the issues of illegal land grabs.

"The government has targets around housing that it is working on. There are plans to assist local authorities to build houses for low income households. This will help reduce the challenge of illegal settlements."

Reiterating President Robert Mugabe's stance on land barons, Kasukuwere emphasised that government will continue to arrest the lands barons. He further said that the government is working hard in trying to come up with an amicable solution to the demolition of housing units build by innocent citizens on land acquired through the unscrupulous land barons.

"I know that residents associations have had cat and mouse run with local authorities over demolitions. Government is seeking a win - win situation between the two parties. The police have been arresting land barons who are behind some of the illegal land grabs. This will continue as it helps put order in some of the local authorities."