By Correspondent
Harare Council’s launch of prepaid meters has been dismissed as a misdiagnosis, as the problem lies with leakages and illegal connections, according to Harare Residents Trust (HRT).
HRT states that the new intervention will not address the primary issue of water shortages in the capital.
“The water crisis is a crisis of governance.
“Leakages and illegal connections by council engineers have created water consumers who are not on the council’s billing database.
“Prepaid water meters will never resolve the mismanagement and abuse of water revenues.
HRT said Harare is only supplying water to 40- 45 per cent of households connected to the water reticulation system, while 60 percent have no access to municipal water.
It said many people now rely on private and community boreholes.
“The Harare Residents’ Trust is totally opposed to the introduction of prepaid water meters without first addressing critical governance issues.
“Corruption in the procurement of contractors and structuring of public-private partnerships is where ratepayers’ funds are being stolen in broad daylight.
“It is improper to expect transparency and accountability in the utilisation of water revenues when there is a lack of transparency in the contracting of Helcraw to install prepaid water meters.
“Who did they compete with?
“The prepaid water meters project is a money-looting scheme that lacks transparency and accountability.
Harare Celebrates Project
However, Harare has praised the project and already installed nearly 50 in the CBD.
Harare’s Acting Principal Communications Officer, Mercy Makuvatsine, said 22 prepaid water meters have been installed at 178 Birdcage Walk flats.
Another 28 prepaid water meters were installed at Calder Gardens.
Makuvatsine said there are no costs for the installation of the prepaid meters.
She said the city is starting the installation of the meters in areas with running water.
“We are starting with all those areas with running water.
“This Helcraw Water Private Limited project is a wholesome package where we are also going to install pipes and improve the pumping system at Morton Jaffray Waterworks,” said Makuvatsine.
Despite this progress, Harare is yet to produce an evaluation report of the pilot prepaid water meter project conducted in 2015.
The pilot covered Sunningdale 3, Kambuzuma, Budiriro, Westgate, the Avenues, and Mabelreign.
There were reports that some Council workers and councillors resisted the project but were then excluded from further involvement in deliberations.
