Some Gwanda residents are questioning the municipality’s implementation of prepaid water meters, saying there was insufficient consultation and alleging that the move violates their rights.
Gwanda municipality first announced plans to install the pre-paid water meter gadgets in the Matabeleland South capital over a decade ago.
The municipality even once applied for borrowing powers from the Local Government ministry to purchase the much condemned gadgets despite protests and petitions from residents.
The municipality was forced to shelve the project due to overwhelming protests from ratepayers.
One resident told Southern Eye on Sunday that the mandatory installation of prepaid meters was “pathetic” and against human rights, adding that the local residents association appeared to support the policy without proper community input.
“We heard it is a 2013 resolution. We are challenging it in court,” the resident said.
Other residents expressed concerns about communication gaps and affordability.
“This was not a constitutional meeting; we were simply told what is being implemented,” another resident said.
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“The economy was different in 2013. Some people do not have WhatsApp, yet updates are only sent through WhatsApp. How many boreholes are there in town, and will they sustain us?
“Even if boreholes are available, they are not user-friendly. People living in high-density areas cannot afford prepaid meters.”
However, Gwanda mayor Thulani Moyo disputed claims that the 2013 policy was being enforced without consultation.
He explained that the council has been working on a continuous adjustment of previous resolutions, with a focus on replacing problematic meters with improved prepaid systems.
“The resolution is not from 2013 alone,” Moyo said,
“It is part of continuity, where in 2022 and 2023, we resolved to remove faulty meters and install better gadgets that cannot be tampered with.”
He added that consultations were conducted across all wards, with councillors gathering feedback from residents, who wanted prepaid meters.
“We have the database and signed agreements from residents, who opted for prepaid meters,” Moyo said.
“There is no evidence of residents rejecting the meters; what is being reported is the opinion of a few individuals.”
Moyo also defended the prepaid system as a tool for ensuring sustainable service delivery.
He said the municipality was owed over ZiG 100 million in unpaid bills, affecting its ability to provide clean water, maintain infrastructure, pay staff, and cover operational costs such as chemicals, electricity, and fuel.
“The right to water goes hand in hand with the responsibility to pay for it,” Moyo said.
“There is no free service. Prepaid meters help us manage billing issues, prevent tampering, and support digitalisation as we work towards Vision 2030.”
The mayor confirmed that the prepaid meters, which cost ZiG 270, can be paid in instalments of ZiG 22 per month and will eventually become council property.
The official launch of the system is scheduled for February 16 or 17 with service teams in place to assist residents.
