Johnson Progress

The Zimbabwean government has embarked on a nationwide initiative to install prepaid water meters, starting with Harare, to tackle water management challenges and promote responsible consumption.

Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe confirmed that contracts have been signed with investors, and installation will begin in selected suburbs of the capital within the next two to three weeks.

“We have signed contracts with the investor; they are now on site,” Garwe said.

“It is a process, however, we are glad that it has begun and in Harare, we will start installing the prepaid meters in the next two or three weeks,” he added.

The program will first target high-density suburbs in Harare, including satellite towns like Norton, Chitungwiza, and Ruwa.

The prepaid water system aims to enhance efficiency in water usage and improve revenue collection.

By ensuring consumers pay for water upfront, the system will curb treated water theft and boost revenue inflows.

According to authorities, this approach will also ease water shortages in most local authorities.

“The prepaid water system helps curb treated water theft and will boost revenue inflows by ensuring consumers pay for water upfront,” authorities said.

However, urban planning expert Dr. Percy Toriro has raised concerns over the privatization of the water system, citing potential risks of making the service unaffordable for many.

“While privatizing public goods can lead to improved efficiency and delivery, it often risks making the service unaffordable for many,” Toriro said.

He suggests that a hybrid model, typically through a semi-autonomous utility, could be a more effective approach, allowing for operational independence and faster decision-making while maintaining accountability to the public.

In the initial phase, 600,000 prepaid meters will be installed across major cities, with 320,000 allocated to Harare and the rest distributed to Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare, and Victoria Falls.

The rollout is part of a broader Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) model, which will see private firms managing raw water purification, distribution, billing, and wastewater treatment.

The City of Harare will also receive a new water treatment plant.

The introduction of prepaid water meters comes 10 years after the idea was first mooted, with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) launching a pilot program in Harare’s Central Business District and other residential suburbs in 2014.

Although the project was shelved in 2016, ZINWA managed to install prepaid water meters in growth points and small towns.

As the rollout of prepaid water meters begins in Harare, residents can expect significant changes in their water usage and billing.

While the system aims to promote responsible consumption and improve revenue collection, concerns over affordability and accessibility remain.

The outcome of this initiative will likely have far-reaching implications for water management in Zimbabwe.