The Sunday Mail
Urban councils countrywide are pushing for Government approval to increase domestic and industrial water charges, arguing that the current rates are unattractive to external investment partners wishing to rehabilitate infrastructure.
Urban councils countrywide are pushing for Government approval to increase domestic and industrial water charges
Most urban councils preside over old water reticulation systems inherited from the colonial era and designed for a small population.
The growth of the urban population over the past three decades has strained water systems run by financially-constrained councils.
Urban authorities say they have been identifying possible investors for water infrastructure under build-operate-transfer deals, but partners turn away citing low water charges which would mean more time to recoup their investments.
The country is yet to see completion of major projects such as the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project, Kunzvi Dam for Harare, and Nyatsime Dam for Chitungwiza.
In separate interviews with The Sunday Mail last week, city authorities in Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare and Masvingo said they had agreed to push for a Government nod to increase water charges.
Zimbabwe Local Government Association president Councillor Martin Moyo, who Bulawayo mayor, said: “The idea for a water tariff hike is the best if we want to attract private players into the water sector.”
He said councils were yet to agree on an ideal hike.
Chitungwiza Town Clerk Mr George Makunde said since Government had approved commercialisation of water, a tariff increase was inevitable.
“People should also understand that to have quality water they should pay for the service,” he said. “It is also difficult to difficult to build dams using public funds because of the economy and Government is not able to build such infrastructure. We are glad that Government has commercialised water and this has opened up opportunity for investors to come and help with much needed infrastructure hence our push for a review our tariffs.”
Mutare mayor Cllr Tatenda Nhamarare added: “In Mutare the tariffs are as low as US$2,50 for fixed (monthly) charges in the high-density suburbs and at the end of the month some households pay as little as US$7 and this is actually stifling development.
“Investors are ready to chip in but they want our water charges to be at a level that is viable; that is why we are pushing for an upward review.”
Many residents do not service their water bills with almost all councils owed millions of dollars.
The situation has resulted in Harare City Council embarking on a water disconnection exercise which has since last week seen thousands of residents being affected as the city seeks to recover over US$70 million.
Zimbabwe Institute of Regional and Urban Planners president Mr Percy Toriro said Government should ensure any new rates were realistic and affordable.
“The issue of water tariffs is a sensitive one due to the strategic importance of water. There is need to carefully balance between providing a sustainable water service and making water available to people of all classes,” he said.
“The best way of approaching sustainable water pricing is to apply differential pricing for the low-income and high income groups where the lower-income groups are charged slightly less than the actual cost whilst the higher income groups are charged slightly higher than actual cost of service.”
