Residents challenge prepaid water meters

Some residents in Gwanda are questioning the municipality's rollout of prepaid water meters, claiming there was insufficient consultation and alleging that the move violates their rights.

Gwanda municipality first announced plans to install prepaid meters over a decade ago. Despite protests and petitions from residents, the council even sought borrowing powers from the Ministry of Local Government to purchase the devices. The project was shelved due to overwhelming opposition at the time.

One resident on Sunday described the mandatory installation of prepaid meters as "pathetic" and against human rights, adding that the local residents' association appeared to support the policy without proper community input.

"We heard it is a 2013 resolution. We are challenging it in court," the resident said.

Other concerns raised include communication gaps and affordability. "This was not a constitutional meeting; we were simply told what is being implemented," said another resident. "Some people do not have WhatsApp, yet updates are only sent through WhatsApp. How many boreholes are there in town, and will they sustain us? Even if boreholes are available, they are not user-friendly. People living in high-density areas cannot afford prepaid meters."

Gwanda Mayor Thulani Moyo disputed claims that the policy was enforced without consultation. He explained that the council has been continuously adjusting previous resolutions to replace faulty meters with improved prepaid systems.

"The resolution is not from 2013 alone. It is part of continuity, where in 2022 and 2023, we resolved to remove faulty meters and install better gadgets that cannot be tampered with," Mayor Moyo said.

He added that consultations were conducted across all wards, with councillors gathering feedback from residents, many of whom supported prepaid meters. "We have the database and signed agreements from residents, who opted for prepaid meters. There is no evidence of residents rejecting the meters; what is being reported is the opinion of a few individuals," he said.

The mayor defended the prepaid system as a tool for sustainable service delivery, noting that the municipality is owed over ZiG 100 million in unpaid bills, affecting water provision, infrastructure maintenance, staff salaries, and operational costs.

"The right to water goes hand in hand with the responsibility to pay for it. There is no free service. Prepaid meters help us manage billing issues, prevent tampering, and support digitalisation as we work towards Vision 2030," Moyo said.

The prepaid meters cost ZiG 270 each, payable in instalments of ZiG 22 per month, and will eventually become council property. The official launch of the system is scheduled for February 16 or 17, with service teams ready to assist residents.