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Conrad Mupesa Herald Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) is considering reviewing downwards fixed water charges following an outcry from residents in areas they service. Residents have raised concern over Zinwa water charges which see every household being billed a fixed $7 monthly charge. They believe the charge is too high, making the overall water charge for Zinwa clients higher than those being run by local authorities. ZINWA corporate communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga confirmed the development, adding the reduction should be done in a way that did not compromise service delivery.

Mhangura residents on Monday raised alarm about the high fixed water tariffs, a sentiment that was shared by Zinwa clients across the country.
“After receiving representations from various clients and stakeholders nationwide, the Authority is looking at ways of revising the fixed charge to make it affordable to clients without compromising its ability to provide service,” said Mrs Munyonga in an emailed response. She said the fixed charges cover maintenance of water reticulation infrastructure. Pumping and treatment costs, she said, were covered by the consumption charge.

Mhangura residents raised concern over the $5 fixed sewerage charge, saying it made the overall bill expensive at a time when other houses were not connected to the sewer system. Mrs Munyonga acknowledged the anomaly, but said Zinwa had attended to all known cases where people were being billed for non-existent sewerage services.

“In Mhangura, there have been cases where some clients that only have water connections with no sewer connection, but were being charged sewer charge of $5,” she said. “All known cases of that nature have since been rectified, with such clients having their accounts adjusted accordingly. Clients whose situation has not been rectified are advised to visit or contact ZINWA for assistance.” Interviewed residents of Mhangura maintained that the sewerage charge was still appearing on their monthly bills.

“We are still being billed sewerage charge every month and there has been no communication from ZINWA regarding that issue,” said Ms Evelyn Magaya. “There has not been any information circulated encouraging residents with outstanding issues to get assistance from Zinwa.” ZINWA said the water and sewer reticulation infrastructure they inherited from Makonde rural district council in 2011 is now obsolete making it difficult to pump water continuously.