Zimbabwe plans to roll out prepaid water meters across the entire nation starting with Harare. The government will begin installing these smart devices within two weeks at homes around the capital city. Officials want people to pay for water before they use it just like buying airtime for mobile phones. The new system should help residents track how much water they consume each day. Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe says workers have already arrived on location to start the massive project.
The government signed deals with private companies to handle water services from cleaning to billing. Harare residents will receive 320,000 new meters from a total batch of 600,000 units. The remaining devices will go to Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare and Victoria Falls later. Dense neighborhoods around Harare will receive the first installations before other areas. Satellite towns like Norton, Chitungwiza and Ruwa will also join the initial phase.
Government first suggested this water payment idea back in 2014 but nothing happened. City officials tried a small test program two years later but canceled it before completion. Some smaller towns already use prepaid water systems that seem to work well. Planning expert Dr Percy Toriro warns that private water services might become expensive for poor families. The president recently launched new service standards to force local councils to provide better water supplies.
The government signed deals with private companies to handle water services from cleaning to billing. Harare residents will receive 320,000 new meters from a total batch of 600,000 units. The remaining devices will go to Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare and Victoria Falls later. Dense neighborhoods around Harare will receive the first installations before other areas. Satellite towns like Norton, Chitungwiza and Ruwa will also join the initial phase.
Government first suggested this water payment idea back in 2014 but nothing happened. City officials tried a small test program two years later but canceled it before completion. Some smaller towns already use prepaid water systems that seem to work well. Planning expert Dr Percy Toriro warns that private water services might become expensive for poor families. The president recently launched new service standards to force local councils to provide better water supplies.
