‘Pay first, drink later’ as Harare Pilots Prepaid Water Meters

Harare has launched a prepaid water meter pilot at Birdcage Walk and Calder Gardens to improve revenue collection, but rights groups warn the move could limit access to water for vulnerable residents without proper safeguards (image source)

Harare has begun a contentious rollout of prepaid water meters in a pilot covering flats near the central business district — a move city officials say will improve revenue collection and reduce losses, but which rights groups warn may criminalise access to a basic service.

The first phase installs 22 prepaid meters at Birdcage Walk, with a second tranche of 28 scheduled for Calder Gardens, signalling a cautious expansion of the programme.

City officials and implementing partners argue the system will cut non-revenue water and ensure residents pay only for what they consume. Helcraw Water and technology partner Laison Technologies say installations will accompany pipe repairs and a push to reduce losses to below five percent — part of a broader effort to make the utility financially sustainable.

“What we want is to cut losses and make sure people get the water they have paid for,” said Helcraw’s managing director during the launch, stressing that technical upgrades will run alongside meter installation.

Residents at Birdcage Walk and Calder Gardens reacted with alarm and practical questions. Tenants worry about prepaid disconnections if balances run out, and some fear health risks if households cannot top up quickly during shortages. One resident said the slogan “pay first, drink later” captures the anxiety among families on tight budgets who may be forced to ration water in ways that increase sanitation risks.

Rights groups and legal advocates insist access to clean water is a human right and urge the council to ensure safeguards. They want clear emergency credits for vulnerable households, transparent tariff-setting, and an appeals mechanism before disconnection. Civil-society campaigners are calling for published protocols on how the prepaid system will treat hospitals, care homes, and households with medical needs.

The city frames the pilot as both fiscal reform and a demand-management tool. Officials say prepaid metering reduces billing disputes and helps target maintenance where leaks and illegal connections drive losses. The council has promised complementary investments in burst-pipe replacement and network upgrades to make the new meters effective.

Technical and policy experts caution that prepaid meters alone cannot solve systemic utility problems. They recommend a phased roll-out tied to social protection measures, digital payment access for low-income users, and public education so consumers understand top-up procedures and emergency provisions. Operators also need to ensure interoperability and data privacy protections for consumption records.

How the pilot treats vulnerable households will determine public acceptance. Observers say transparent engagement, published criteria for exemptions, and an independent complaints channel are essential to avoid fuelling distrust and potential legal challenges.

If the City balances revenue goals with clear protections for the poor, the prepaid model could reduce losses while preserving water access; if not, the programme risks deepening inequality and sparking protest.