By George Makoni
The Community Water Alliance (CWA) has conducted a fact-finding visit to households in Westlea suburb following mounting complaints over the ongoing installation of prepaid water meters.
The door-to-door assessment was carried out in collaboration with Ward Councillor Denford Ngadziore, engineers from the Harare City Council, and technicians from Helcraw Electrical.
The intervention was prompted by residents’ concerns that recently installed prepaid meters are registering disproportionately high water consumption compared to actual household usage.
Residents alleged that the recorded meter readings do not correspond with their typical consumption patterns, raising concerns regarding the accuracy, calibration, and functionality of the devices.
Responding to the concerns, a Helcraw Electrical technician indicated that the discrepancies may be attributable to internal plumbing leaks within affected premises.
The technician emphasised that, in terms of the City of Harare Water By-Laws, property owners bear responsibility for the maintenance and integrity of internal water reticulation systems. Residents were accordingly advised to engage qualified plumbers to inspect and remedy any potential leaks.
Helcraw Electrical representatives maintained that there are no technical faults associated with the installed prepaid meters. However, on-site verification tests to ascertain meter accuracy could not be undertaken due to ongoing water shedding in the area. Stakeholders agreed to conduct the necessary accuracy and calibration tests on Monday next week, subject to the restoration of water supply.
CWA National Coordinator, Hardlife Mudzingwa, urged Helcraw Electrical to enhance coordination with Harare City Council engineers and technicians during the installation process, underscoring the local authority’s oversight and regulatory mandate in municipal water service delivery.
Meanwhile, CWA continues to gather empirical data and document residents’ experiences regarding the rollout of prepaid water meters. In pursuit of transparency, accountability, and the safeguarding of residents’ rights, the organisation has indicated that it will undertake a series of advocacy and stakeholder engagement initiatives in response to the matter.