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Cllr Chikozho

Sharon Chiware Midlands Reporter
GWERU City Council plans to spend $6 million on 15 000 prepaid water meters for residents and companies, as it angles to improve revenue inflow and service delivery.

Council is struggling to recover about $50 million in unpaid water bills from both residents and companies.

Gweru Mayor Councillor Charles Chikozho said the local authority intended to install the prepaid water meters during the first phase of the project early next year. He said the prepaid water meters were part of a strategy to contain and recover ballooning debts.

“Every household should have a prepaid water meter if council is to improve revenue inflow,” said Cllr Chikozho. “Residents and companies owe council over $50 million in unpaid water bills and we feel this move will assist us in recovering our money.”

Cllr Chikozho said most of the residents were defaulting in servicing their water bills. “The council is struggling to collect revenue and the prepaid meters are the way to go,” he said. “We have managed to introduce the programme to residents through awareness campaigns and I am glad that the residents have welcomed the project.

“We have made efforts to convince residents on how this system will work through awareness campaigns, which we held in July. Since water is everyone’s right, as the council, we do not want to deprive residents of such a precious commodity, but they must pay for the water they are going to use.”

Gweru proposed a static 2018 budget, which is pegged at $38 million, due to the harsh economic climate obtaining in the country.