THE Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) has opposed Bulawayo City Council (BCC)’s proposal to establish an independent water utility citing concerns over financial stability, accountability and transparency.
In a statement, BPRA cited a number of red flags raised by residents during a consultative meeting that was held on December 3, 2025.
According to BPRA, residents questioned the credibility of the feasibility study, which remains unavailable in the public domain.
The association said residents were concerned that separating the water account would negatively affect the performance of other municipal departments, since water is the city’s main source of revenue.
“Deep dissatisfaction was expressed over the absence of any reference to VEI [Vitens Evides International] in the presentation, raising suspicion that the city may be concealing critical details about the utility’s structure and partnerships,” the association said.
The association highlighted several concerns raised by residents, including the potential impact on employees, increased costs and the introduction of pre-paid water meters.
BPRA said the proposed water utility was a “covert vehicle to impose pre-paid water meters, a system residents and stakeholders have unequivocally rejected”.
According to BPRA, the proposed water utility was overwhelmingly rejected by residents, who, instead, recommended the ring-fencing of water revenue within the existing water department and strengthening internal control systems to address current administrative and implementation inefficiencies.
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According to reports, Bulawayo Municipality engaged Vitens Evides International, a Dutch water utility, to manage the city’s water and sanitation services.
Critics have raised fears that council will eventually hand over water management to a private firm in much the same way it did with vehicle parking to Tendy Three Investments.
Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights director Khumbulani Maphosa said privatisation of water services was an assault on the right to water.
The government has faced serious backlash following its decision to privatise water services in urban areas.
