Harare Stakeholders discuss water tarriffs blueprints

HARARE - Stakeholders in the water service provision sector recently convened in Harare to discuss and recommend a production of a water tariffs study document which will give local authorities a blue print in reviewing water charges.

Residents have on a number of occasions clashed with local authorities over the issue of unjustified tariff increases.

It is against this background the government together with the donor community convened in the capital to formulate guidelines that will be used when reviewing and adjusting tariffs for water and sanitation services.

Water Resources Planning and Development Director, Mr Tinayeshe Mutazu said the government recognised the need to review and update the procedures that are being currently used for water tariffs.

"A number of stages are going to be involved until they manage to come up with tariffs that will allow for full cost recovery for the local authority and affordable to the consumers," Mr Mutazu said.

Mr Mutazu said the expected output is going to provide government with a strong, more comprehensive and systematic basis to formulate water tariffs and recommend on institutional mechanisms and procedures to effectively monitor compliance with the tariff setting regulations.