Record keepers mark this period as the worst for Harare Metropolitan water supply. Things should improve from here forward. Progress may start slow but speed up once finances and engineering issues find better footing. Every person must pay for water they actually use rather than arbitrary minimums or strange estimates.
People who skip bills or bypass their meters need to start paying fairly. Money problems created engineering failures because upkeep funds vanished, treatment chemicals ran short, and repairs went undone. Corrupt officials and poor organizations left capable technical staff without support or resources to fix problems.
A management shift has happened. The new group handles treatment, distribution, and billing across the metropolitan province instead of Harare City Council. Mayor Jacob Mafume still claims council control despite decades of decline. The system once ranked among the best in Africa before independence, then doubled capacity during the 1980s. Current delivery falls below pre-independence levels.
Government officials, Harare City representatives, and Chinese companies formed this partnership. They should make their arrangement official soon. Morton Jaffray works near Lake Chivero Dam Wall changed hands recently. Operational sections will keep running as workers restore broken parts of the facility to service.
Financial fixes come next. Around 650,000 prepaid meters travel by sea right now and delivery is expected shortly. This quantity covers every household and business in the area. Installation takes time, depending on available plumbers. Starting soon helps everyone involved with these changes.
These meters hopefully offer modern payment options. Most residents want systems similar to Zesa electricity payments, where phones handle transactions through mobile money at any hour. Earlier tests required people to visit downtown offices during business hours with smart cards. Long lines made that system impractical for most customers.
Rate accounts must change immediately after meter installation, and water charges should disappear from general bills. Many complaints stem from charges continuing despite irregular service. Harare City Council lacks proper financial systems but must find ways to implement these updates alongside new meter placement.
Every apartment and business deserves individual meters like Zesa provides for electricity. Shared systems create problems, especially with prepaid services. These meters should generate the steady cash flow needed for rebuilding treatment plants and fixing distribution networks. Each cubic meter delivered without losses increases available repair money.
Water pricing requires discussion. Someone independent should review financial needs and determine fair rates for efficient service. Consumers deserve protection from paying for waste or mismanagement. As repairs eliminate leaks and meters and ensure everyone pays fairly, current rates might prove adequate, with minimal adjustments needing explanation.
Reliable 24/7 water makes people more willing to accept properly presented charges, particularly with regular auditing. Harare City Council likely used water fees for other purposes like luxury vehicles and travel for managers. Rate setters might consider ZESA methods with lower costs for essential amounts followed by higher charges for excess usage. This approach helps everyone afford basic water through existing infrastructure.
People who skip bills or bypass their meters need to start paying fairly. Money problems created engineering failures because upkeep funds vanished, treatment chemicals ran short, and repairs went undone. Corrupt officials and poor organizations left capable technical staff without support or resources to fix problems.
A management shift has happened. The new group handles treatment, distribution, and billing across the metropolitan province instead of Harare City Council. Mayor Jacob Mafume still claims council control despite decades of decline. The system once ranked among the best in Africa before independence, then doubled capacity during the 1980s. Current delivery falls below pre-independence levels.
Government officials, Harare City representatives, and Chinese companies formed this partnership. They should make their arrangement official soon. Morton Jaffray works near Lake Chivero Dam Wall changed hands recently. Operational sections will keep running as workers restore broken parts of the facility to service.
Financial fixes come next. Around 650,000 prepaid meters travel by sea right now and delivery is expected shortly. This quantity covers every household and business in the area. Installation takes time, depending on available plumbers. Starting soon helps everyone involved with these changes.
These meters hopefully offer modern payment options. Most residents want systems similar to Zesa electricity payments, where phones handle transactions through mobile money at any hour. Earlier tests required people to visit downtown offices during business hours with smart cards. Long lines made that system impractical for most customers.
Rate accounts must change immediately after meter installation, and water charges should disappear from general bills. Many complaints stem from charges continuing despite irregular service. Harare City Council lacks proper financial systems but must find ways to implement these updates alongside new meter placement.
Every apartment and business deserves individual meters like Zesa provides for electricity. Shared systems create problems, especially with prepaid services. These meters should generate the steady cash flow needed for rebuilding treatment plants and fixing distribution networks. Each cubic meter delivered without losses increases available repair money.
Water pricing requires discussion. Someone independent should review financial needs and determine fair rates for efficient service. Consumers deserve protection from paying for waste or mismanagement. As repairs eliminate leaks and meters and ensure everyone pays fairly, current rates might prove adequate, with minimal adjustments needing explanation.
Reliable 24/7 water makes people more willing to accept properly presented charges, particularly with regular auditing. Harare City Council likely used water fees for other purposes like luxury vehicles and travel for managers. Rate setters might consider ZESA methods with lower costs for essential amounts followed by higher charges for excess usage. This approach helps everyone afford basic water through existing infrastructure.
