THE BULAWAYO City Council has come under fire from residents for unilaterally introducing prepaid residential water meters without any form of consultation.
MTHANDAZO NYONI OWN CORRESPONDENT Council announced that it would soon start installing prepaid water meters in the city, starting with the central business district, the Cowdray Park area and other new residential developments before rolling them out to the rest of the suburbs.
Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Associations (BPRA) co-ordinator Rodrick Fayayo said they were against the privatisation of water.
“The city council is supposed to understand that there is massive de-industrialisation in Bulawayo and people are not employed before taking such a step,” Fayayo said.
“What are they saying about orphans and vulnerable elderly people who cannot even afford to make a living?
“To us, this is an elitist programme meant to impoverish residents,” he added.
BPRA organising secretary Ambrose Sibindi said council was supposed to consult residents first before making such a decision.
“Engagement is very important and we are disappointed that council simply imposed its decision on residents,” Sibindi said.
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“They were supposed to explain the programme first to residents so that people could understand and prepare for it,” he said.
Bulawayo United Residents’ Associations chairperson Winnos Dube said the city council was infringing on people’s rights.
“This is a programme we have not heard of. As a residents’ association, we feel this is infringement of human rights to have water privatised.
“Water is life, but if you put conditions to access it, I do not think that will work. Other people will fail to get it,” Dube said.
