News / National
Harare proposes to start using prepaid water meters in 2017
12 Oct 2016 at 15:05hrs | Views
The City of Harare has stated that in the 2017 Budget Speech and Proposals that it will continue with the full implementation of smart water meters. Prepaid water meters have always been not favourable to the citizens of Harare.
Harare Residents Trust indicated that the decision to fully implement the project has been done without consulting residents.
"Citizenry participation is very important. Given that the council is a board which represents the residents and decisions should come from residents then they are tabled before the council for consideration before being implemented. Therefore by the continued installation of prepaid water meters the City Council shows no concern for the citizens," said the trust.
"Prepaid water meters are not favourable to citizens due to a lot of reasons. To mention only a few, the way Harare Water is supplying residents with water is not pleasing at all. Some residents in areas like Mabelreign Santose area have spent years without water now. Therefore this shows that the decision to install prepaid water meters is not reasonable. The question then is how can the city council want to install meters when there are some areas that do not receive water at all."
The trust said another point to note is that, there are a lot of water shutdowns that are taking place to the extent that most residents get water at night.
"For instance residents in Glen View, Mufakose, Budiriro and Glen Norah receive water midnight. Hence the question now is how can residents favour water meters when they already have a burden of waking up midnight to fetch water from the tap. Also will these prepaid water meters increase the availability of water when they are installed. All what residents want to see is water coming out of their taps not forcing them to install meters that will not benefit them," said the trust.
"As Harare Residents Trust, water is a basic need and everyone has the right to receive it. According to Chapter 4 Section 77 of the Constitution, every person has the right to safe, clean and potable water. Therefore residents are being deprived of their rights when they do not receive water as accordingly. Also to note, by installing prepaid water meters its privatising water. Hence a number of residents will not be able to have access to the water. Therefore prepaid water meters are not favourable to the residents standards of living."
Harare Residents Trust indicated that the decision to fully implement the project has been done without consulting residents.
"Citizenry participation is very important. Given that the council is a board which represents the residents and decisions should come from residents then they are tabled before the council for consideration before being implemented. Therefore by the continued installation of prepaid water meters the City Council shows no concern for the citizens," said the trust.
"Prepaid water meters are not favourable to citizens due to a lot of reasons. To mention only a few, the way Harare Water is supplying residents with water is not pleasing at all. Some residents in areas like Mabelreign Santose area have spent years without water now. Therefore this shows that the decision to install prepaid water meters is not reasonable. The question then is how can the city council want to install meters when there are some areas that do not receive water at all."
The trust said another point to note is that, there are a lot of water shutdowns that are taking place to the extent that most residents get water at night.
"For instance residents in Glen View, Mufakose, Budiriro and Glen Norah receive water midnight. Hence the question now is how can residents favour water meters when they already have a burden of waking up midnight to fetch water from the tap. Also will these prepaid water meters increase the availability of water when they are installed. All what residents want to see is water coming out of their taps not forcing them to install meters that will not benefit them," said the trust.
"As Harare Residents Trust, water is a basic need and everyone has the right to receive it. According to Chapter 4 Section 77 of the Constitution, every person has the right to safe, clean and potable water. Therefore residents are being deprived of their rights when they do not receive water as accordingly. Also to note, by installing prepaid water meters its privatising water. Hence a number of residents will not be able to have access to the water. Therefore prepaid water meters are not favourable to the residents standards of living."
Source - Byo24News
