Government outlaws conventional water meters
GOVERNMENT has with immediate effect outlawed the use of conventional water meters, declaring it mandatory for local authorities to install prepaid ones.
Following massive nationwide consultations with residents, local authorities have been instructed to expeditiously introduce prepaid water meters.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Engineer George Mlilo yesterday said Government instructed all local authorities to install prepaid water meters, in a move that is aimed at increasing revenue collection.
In an interview on the sidelines of the Midlands Land Developers luncheon in Gweru, Eng Mlilo said prepaid water meter system was the way to go.
“With immediate effect, all local authorities should now install prepaid water meters,” he said. “Look at how Zesa is managing its operations with the prepaid billing system, they have created an efficient system where people will not use their facilities for CASH-STRAPPED Gweru City Council (GCC) has missed its revenue collection target by over $2 million from January to July this year.
The local authority has collected over $11 million from the projected $13 million over the period.
GCC staff does not have adequate protective clothing due to financial challenges.
According to GCC financial performance report from January to July, the local authority continues to face challenges characterised by continuous increase in debtors, resulting in inability to carry out the planned activities free or on credit, it is just pay as you go, a move which makes its operation smooth.”
Although Eng Mlilo could not give a time frame when local authorities were expected to have fully complied with the directive, he said Government had already done enough consultations with residents across the country over the matter.
“At this point in time we are just directing all local authorities to start the process of installing prepaid water meters,” he said.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere is on record warning local authorities against overcharging residents.
Last year, Government granted local authorities the nod to install prepaid water meters to ensure timeous payment of bills, as well as improving service delivery.
The move is likely to curb loopholes in revenue collection among local authorities, as well as making sure that most residents who were previously saddled with estimated bills and would be given what they would have paid for. is to get mobile numbers from our clients, so far we have only managed to collect 700 cellphone numbers out of 25 000 clients.”
The report states that constrained revenue inflows crowded out service delivery, as most of the revenue collected was channelled towards fixed costs, the major one being employee costs.
Council manpower costs account for 63,31percent of total expenditure.
“There is need to bring the ratio to be within the recommended 30:70 ratio,” reads the report. “Sundry payments used 30.81percent of the collections, of which the major items were electricity $499,160, water and sewer repairs$232,532, vehicle repairs $181,505, pensions $122,336, travel and subsistence $119,734, purchase of pick-up trucks $100,380, legal fees $98,705, telephone $84,965, bank charges $54,155, conferences $56,320, councillors allowances $51,340, insurance $32, 468.”