The Harare City Council’s smart water meter rollout programme is being disrupted by a wave of thefts and vandalism targeting the newly installed devices.
In partnership with Helcraw Water, the local authority is currently deploying the smart meters to improve water management and introduce a more transparent billing system across the capital.
So far, more than 23,000 units have been fitted in the city’s high-density suburbs and the Avenues area.
While the initiative aims to modernise the city’s infrastructure, the introduction of the prepaid system has deeply divided local communities.
Some residents have welcomed the upgrade, saying the technology will finally put an end to the council’s highly criticised estimated billing system, allowing consumers to pay only for what they use.
Critics argue that the prepaid model commercialises a basic right, effectively restricting access to vital water supplies for low-income families who may struggle to afford the upfront costs.
The social impact of the project remains a major point of debate among stakeholders and civic groups.
Speaking to NewsDay, Precious Shumba, the director of the Harare Residents Trust, said the implementation of these prepaid water meters remains a highly contentious issue, as the city balances infrastructure modernisation against the socio-economic realities of its residents.
“The introduction of prepaid water meters remains highly-contested, as residents we have been engaging both Harare Water and Helcraw Water to try to find a sustainable solution to the numerous concerns raised by residents,” he said.
“There is still resistance to the idea of prepaid water meters, due to the erratic water supply and the widespread loss of treated water through leakages and illegal connections along the water distribution network.
“The vandalism of prepaid water meters is a recent phenomenon. We have received reports about the incidents, and we have requested our community leaders to gather more evidence about the unfortunate situation.”
While Shumba reiterated his reservations about prepaid water meters, citing concerns over high pricing, unreliable supply, and visible impurities in the tap water, he condemned the deliberate destruction of public property.
Reuben Akili, the leader of the Combined Harare Residents Association, revealed that the issue extends beyond simple vandalism.
He claimed that organised thieves are targeting and stripping smart meter valves across the city.
“We have realised massive vandalism of public property, and this is unacceptable. Thieves are targeting smart meter valves, and this is now rampant in Harare,” he said.
Akili added that his association intends to engage both the Harare City Council and Helcraw Water to clarify whether the stolen or damaged meters will be replaced, and at whose expense.
Meanwhile, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume took a hardline stance on the crisis, warning that the vandalism of public infrastructure would not be tolerated.
He declared that the deliberate destruction and theft of prepaid water meters is a serious offence that warrants a custodial prison sentence for anyone caught.
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