CHIPINGE residents have threatened to hold mass protests against the local authority’s plans to introduce prepaid water meters in the town.
BY OBEY MANAYITI
The town recently announced that it would roll out a pilot prepaid water meter project and assess its viability in the face of growing discontent among residents over failure by the local authority to supply water.
For almost a decade now, the majority of suburbs in Chipinge have had erratic water supply and there has been minimum intervention by the officials to deal with the matter except mooting the introduction of prepaid meters.
Platform for Youth Development (PYD), an organisation representing the residents, said they would mobilise to stop the plans.
“PYD urges Zimbabweans and Chipinge residents in particular, to resist any plans to install prepaid water meters before they are fully consulted, as this would be an infringement on their right to water,” said PYD.
“The government should also carry the burden of urban councils and ensure that water supply remains a service to the people. Insisting on prepaid meters is not only unconstitutional, but also cruel, selfish and unsustainable.
“The issue of prepaid water meters is being rejected everywhere particularly in Harare where it has sparked demonstrations by ratepayers led by the Combined Harare Residents’ Association and other residents’ associations.
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“A showdown is looming with residents prepared to mobilise street protests should Chipinge Town Council forge ahead without adequate stakeholder consultations,” added PYD.
Many local authorities across the country are trying to instal prepaid water meters as a way of plugging illegal usage and to increase revenue base.
In September last year, Environment minister Saviour Kasukuwere urged local authorities to turn to prepaid meters as he was addressing council chairpersons, mayors, council CEOs and town clerks in Mutare during the launch of the Water and Sanitation Service Level Benchmarking Peer Review.
