Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. The City of Mutare has launched a water rationing programme targeting major defaulters, including the Mutasa Rural District Council, as part of broad measures to recover nearly US$1 million in unpaid water bills and stabilise the municipality’s strained water services.
In a public notice signed by Town Clerk K.B. Chafesuka, the local authority warned that continued non-payment by key clients was jeopardising the city’s capacity to procure bulk water from ZINWA, acquire essential treatment chemicals, and maintain critical infrastructure, including traffic and tower lighting systems now dependent on prepaid electricity. Said Chafesuka:
There is no way Mutare City can sustain service delivery to Mutasa RDC without the client paying for the services… Especially now that all input material is configured for upfront payments.
Chafesuka said constrained cash flows had compelled the municipality to demand full payment from all water users—both within Mutare and in surrounding jurisdictions.
He emphasised that sustained water provision was no longer feasible without financial stability, particularly given the city’s reliance on prepaid electricity and raw water inputs under the current cost model.
As part of its long-term water management strategy, the City of Mutare is finalising the installation of smart prepaid water metres.
These devices will be rolled out in phases and will allow residents and institutions to access only the amount of water they have pre-purchased.
According to the City, the initiative is designed to align water consumption with resource availability and ensure operational sustainability.
Responding to concerns raised by residents, the municipality clarified that it does not directly supply individual households in Mutasa.
Instead, water is delivered to the Mutasa Rural District Council (RDC) as a bulk client. Consumers in that area were urged to engage their local authority for billing and supply-related issues.
With water security tightening amid looming regional drought conditions, the City of Mutare is calling on all stakeholders to prioritise payment compliance—warning that failure to do so could result in broader city-wide rationing measures. Said Chafesuka:
These steps are necessary to safeguard the long-term sustainability of water supply for all residents.
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