The Harare City Council has officially begun installing prepaid water meters in Mabelreign, marking a major shift in how residents will access and pay for water.
Ward 16 Councillor Denford Ngadziore confirmed that the rollout has started along 1st and 2nd Avenue and will gradually extend to Ashdown Park and Bloomingdale. Installation teams, wearing blue worksuits branded “HELCRAW WATER” and carrying official identification, are moving door-to-door.
Residents can buy prepaid tokens at several district offices, with an online top-up platform said to be nearing completion.
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Why Installation of Prepaid Water Meters in Harare?
City authorities argue that prepaid meters will end the long-standing problem of estimated billing. For years, residents have complained about inflated bills calculated without actual meter readings. In some cases, homeowners were charged despite being out of the country.
Council says the new system ensures fairness: you only pay for what you use. It also promises improved revenue collection, which Mayor Jacob Mafume says is key to repairing ageing pipes and restoring water quality.
Water As A Right Not Privilege: The Constitutional Debate
However, the policy has sparked resistance. The Harare Residents Trust argues that prepaid water risks excluding poor households and may violate Section 77(a) of the Constitution, which guarantees access to safe, clean, potable water.
Trust director Precious Shumba says residents were not adequately consulted and claims the move prioritises revenue over service delivery.
Service Delivery or Revenue Strategy?
Harare currently loses significant treated water through leaks and illegal connections, with supply estimated at around 40 percent of demand. Critics question whether prepaid meters will fix infrastructure or simply enforce a “no payment, no water” model.
Council maintains safeguards will protect vulnerable families. But for many residents, the real test will not be billing accuracy, it will be whether clean, drinkable water finally flows from their taps.
For now, Harare’s prepaid water era has begun.
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