City of Harare Launches Public Awareness on Prepaid Water Meters, Engaging Warren Park Residents
The City of Harare has kicked off awareness efforts regarding the rollout of prepaid water meters, meeting with residents in Warren Park yesterday. City officials were joined by Ward 15 Councillor Tafadzwa Machirori for the session.
Residents voiced mixed opinions about the prepaid meters, but generally welcomed the shift to paying only for the water they actually consume. They noted that the previous billing approach, which relied on estimates, produced higher and less accurate charges.
A local company, Helcraw Electrical, has been contracted to install the prepaid meters in Harare, with the initial phase to cover Warren Park, Westlea, and Avondale.
Councillor Machirori described the prepaid meters as a positive development. He stated, “Harare City Council is rolling out a prepaid water meter program. Residents are urged to cooperate with our technicians. Smart meters allow households to purchase and manage water according to actual use, eliminating the disadvantages of estimated bills.”
The Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trust (ZNOART) supported the move, noting that installing prepaid meters and rehabilitating water infrastructure should enhance service delivery. A ZNOART representative said the initiative was long overdue and thanked the Ministry of Local Government for stepping in. They expressed hope that the project would spread nationwide and address long-standing resident concerns about paying for services not delivered.
Chikomba, a ZNOART spokesperson, highlighted that the refurbishment work by Helcraw aims to curb treated water loss and that, if addressed, Harare’s water provision could improve and align with the city’s aspiration to regain its “sunshine city” status. He added that some suburbs have faced prolonged water shortages, while bills continued to be based on estimates. He welcomed prepaid meters as a fairer system that charges only for water actually consumed.
Helcraw Chief Executive Brendon Jere noted that the prepaid-meter initiative and infrastructure rehabilitation are part of broader efforts to ensure sustainable water supply for Harare residents. Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe described the project as evidence of the Second Republic’s commitment to improved service delivery in urban local authorities.
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