The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube Municipal Reporter
A STORM is brewing in the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) over the council’s intended prepaid water meter system amid revelations that there is a group of councillors bent on frustrating the project in spite of the existence of a binding resolution supporting the initiative.The local authority had identified Cowdray Park suburb to pilot the project then observe it for a period of a year before expanding to other suburbs but a couple of weeks ago Bulawayo mayor, Councillor Martin Moyo, said they had temporarily suspended the project after council officials were pelted with stones in an attack by residents opposed to the scheme.
However, according to impeccable council sources councillors and council officials were now divided about the project with some councillors alleged to be using the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association to arm-twist council into permanently suspending the project.
“The only way council can halt the project is rescinding their previous resolution but as it stands this will be virtually impossible because the majority of councillors are for this idea, noting that it has more advantages than disadvantages.
“What is happening now is that the few councillors who seem to be opposing this move have engaged some residents associations, which are seen as more politically inclined than fostering the opinions of residents, who have caused confusion in this whole project,” said the source.
In an interview with Sunday News last Friday, Bulawayo mayor Clr Moyo reaffirmed his position that the project had suffered a setback because of residents’ “stiff resistance”.
“What I know is that there is no movement when it comes to that project. The last I talked to the engineer he told me that they had met stiff resistance from residents therefore we now have to re-engage them in fresh conversations but as it stands the project has been temporarily suspended and if people continue acting the way they are, we will be forced to totally suspend it,” said Clr Moyo.
Council officials have also dismissed the mayor’s sentiments on the alleged suspension of the project saying it had long begun and they had since installed three out of the 11 meant for a trial phase.
Responding to written questions, BCC public relations officer Miss Bongiwe Ngwenya confirmed that there was no going back on the project.
“The pilot project has already begun in the Cowdray Park Hlalani Kuhle area, the City of Bulawayo has been carrying out the preliminary work in preparation towards the installation of the meters and to date three out of 11 meters have been installed,” said Miss Ngwenya.
On reports that there were some Cowdray Park residents opposed to the project Miss Ngwenya said: “Council has engaged the residents through consultative meetings and will continue to engage the residents of Cowdray Park in a bid to ensure that this project is a success.”
The city’s deputy mayor, Clr Gift Banda, is also on record stating that the prepaid water meter system was the way to go for the local authority as it would increase revenue for council and give residents an opportunity to manage water use.
Early this year the local authority passed a resolution to install the prepaid meters in the city, initially targeting the central business district, Cowdray Park Phase 2 Hlalani Kuhle project, the Cowdray Park District Meter Management Area and all new residential areas before spreading the facility to other suburbs in the city.
In Cowdray Park and new residential areas residents were required to make an initial payment of $50 which was meant to be ring-fenced and in turn be used to complete outstanding developmental works.
“The visible benefits will have a domino effect on the willingness to accept the project and hence be able to replicate it to other parts of the city’s residential suburbs, water loss reduction is improved and the subsequent savings on Non-Revenue Water can easily be translated as cost savings in pumping of the water, treatment, distribution and administration,” reads a council report explaining the resolution.
