Two months ago, Environment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere directed all local authorities to install water meters to ensure that residents pay for the water they consume. Major cities such as Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare have already stepped up efforts to introduce the controversial water billing system.
But the Bulawayo Progressive Association (BUPRA) together with civil society partners staged a march in the city recently to protest against the proposal while the Harare Residents’ Trust (HRT) has also vowed to block the move.
Conservation
Proponents of the system argue that the prepaid metering concept encourages water conservation and enhances water demand management. “The idea behind the introduction of the pre-paid water meters was researched under the Water Demand Management Business Proposal and also under the City of Bulawayo Water and Waste Water Master Plans,” said Nesisa Mpofu, Bulawayo City Council’s public relations officer.
“This research showed that prepaid metering has a lot of advantages to both the council and consumers. The system improves water demand management and customer confidence as well as willingness to pay. It also puts citizens in full control of their budgets.
“With this system there will be no more surprises caused by high water accounts or bills. Residents can buy water which suits their pockets. The system also ensures that leaks do not go undetected for a long time,” she said.
However, critics of the system maintain that if the system is implemented it will deprive poor residents from accessing water, which is a fundamental right according to the constitution.
Privatising water
“The truth of the matter is that the mere act of placing a pre-paid water meter on every household is an act that seeks to exclude the poor from access to water. The intention of the government is clearly to privatise water. This system has proved to be undemocratic and profit-driven across many parts of the developing world where it has dismally failed,” said Takura Zhangazha, a political activist.
Contrary to the belief that pre-paid water meters would be cheap, the installation costs would be a burden to the ratepayers, he added. “These meters will be supplied by private companies to government at a cost. The latter will work out a payment plan with the private company, depending on its ability to charge specific rates that cover both the actual costs of supplying water and purchasing the prepaid water meters.
“In the aftermath of the purchase and supply of the prepaid water meters, government then argues it cannot maintain these meters. it sub-contracts the same to another private company to maintain them while again passing on the cost to the residents,” argued Zhangazha.
Who will benefit?
Mmeli Dube, the acting director of Bulawayo Agenda, expressed similar concerns. “Who stands to benefit from the installation? I doubt if local people are going to benefit from employment and tender opportunities that accompany such a project. This makes the whole issue shrouded in secrecy – like all the past and present corrupt tendencies,” he said.
“Our experience has been that since the installation of pre-paid electricity meters, some families have gone for weeks and sometimes months without electricity. Water cannot be substituted like electricity thus citizens will fail to lead healthy lives with access to clean drinking water,” Dube added. This increased the risk of the outbreak of diseases such cholera, dysentery and other contagious diseases in the country, whose health system was already compromised.
He also argued that prepaid water meters would have a negative impact on communities during times of grief and accidents like bereavement and fire.
Divide and rule
“No-one can go to their tap and prepay to assist a neighbour. This is basically a political strategy meant to divide and rule people where there is no solidarity, only individualism. Are they trying to pay for the cancelled debts?” he said.
In a bid to woo voters during the run up to last year’s July controversial elections, the government directed all local authorities to cancel water bills owed by residents. The move has financially crippled the operations of several local authorities, resulting in poor or non-existent service delivery.
Human rights activist Charity Ncube said the prepaid water meters would impact negatively mostly on women, who are already bearing the brunt of the current economic hardships.
“Water is more vital to a woman’s body than a man’s. Women will lose their dignity if water is pre-paid because they will not afford the cost. They will be forced to resort to unclean water from unprotected sources, which will affect their own and their children’s health. They will also resort to embarrassing and undignified ways of disposing of their menstrual wear,” said Ncube.
Post published in: Lifestyle