THE Bulawayo City Council has vowed to press ahead with the proposed installment of pre-paid water meters by implementing a pilot project in Cowdray Park high-density suburb before rolling it out to other suburbs in the city before year end. LUYANDUHLOBO MAKWATI OWN CORRESPONDENT
Mayor Martin Moyo said the pilot project would be launched in Cowdary Park and if successful, the technical department led by city engineer Simela Dube would acquire more pre-paid water meters and roll out the programme to all residential suburbs.
“The pilot programme will soon start in Cowdray Park and if it works well, our engineering department led by Dube will then acquire the meters for all residents in the city,” Moyo said.
He said certain sections in Cowdray Park would soon be connected with pre-paid meters as part of the pilot project.
“There are certain sections in Cowdray Park where we will start by installing prepaid water meters. If we see that the gadgets are userfriendly and cannot be manipulated in any way, we will then introduce them throughout the city,” Moyo said.
Council has over the past few months come under fire from residents for proposing unilateral introduction of pre-paid water meters without any form of consultation.
Initially, council had announced it would start installing the meters, starting in the central business district followed by Cowdray Park and then other new residential developments before rolling them out to the rest of the suburbs.
