Harare City Council began fitting prepaid water meters at 50 apartment buildings on Friday through contractor Halcraw Electrical. The installations started in the central business district at Birdcage Walk Flats and Calder Gardens as the first phase of a citywide program. Managing director Brendon Jere said the new system will cut waste and guarantee residents pay only for actual consumption.
The capital loses 60 percent of the treated water before it reaches customers, costing more than $3 million each month. Leaks, broken meters, and theft drain municipal finances and force people to find unsafe water sources. Workers will repair burst pipes and upgrade the Morton Jaffray treatment plant to boost capacity.
Property owner Elias Kaseke said the old billing method hurt all tenants regardless of payment status. Zimbabwe National Organisation of Association and Residents Trust chairman Shalvar Chikomba urged citizens to accept the meters. Halcrow technicians trained city staff to install the equipment and teach others the same skills.
The capital loses 60 percent of the treated water before it reaches customers, costing more than $3 million each month. Leaks, broken meters, and theft drain municipal finances and force people to find unsafe water sources. Workers will repair burst pipes and upgrade the Morton Jaffray treatment plant to boost capacity.
Property owner Elias Kaseke said the old billing method hurt all tenants regardless of payment status. Zimbabwe National Organisation of Association and Residents Trust chairman Shalvar Chikomba urged citizens to accept the meters. Halcrow technicians trained city staff to install the equipment and teach others the same skills.
