Rutendo Chirume
MASVINGO – The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has intensified the rollout of prepaid water meters, with installations now underway in Nyika, Bikita District, as the utility expands the programme to improve water service delivery and resolve long-standing billing challenges.
The rollout in Nyika follows the successful installation of prepaid water meters in Gutu last month. ZINWA has received 5,250 prepaid water meters earmarked for installation in Gutu, Nyika, Chirundu, Zaka and other centres across the country.
According to ZINWA statement on the progress on installation of prepaid water meters dated July 06 , , 2,026 prepaid water meters have already been installed in Gutu, while 928 had been installed in Nyika as of July 4, 2026. Once the Nyika installations are completed, the programme is expected to move to the border town of Chirundu before being extended to other small towns, growth points and rural service centres where the authority supplies potable water.
ZINWA Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing, Marjorie Munyonga, said the prepaid metering programme was part of the authority’s broader strategy to modernise water service delivery while giving consumers greater control over their water usage.
“Residents of the two centres have welcomed the prepaid water meters as a development that will conclusively address billing issues and allow them greater flexibility and control over their water use and consumption patterns,” said Munyonga.
She added that prepaid water meters enable consumers to pay for water before use, making it easier for households to budget their monthly water expenditure and avoid accumulating debt associated with the traditional post-paid billing system.
“Prepaid water meters also help utilities to improve service delivery as resources normally deployed to post-paid metering, such as monthly meter readings, will now be used for other purposes such as repairs and maintenance of water treatment and distribution systems,” she said.
The prepaid water meter initiative follows a successful pilot project conducted in Mvurwi and Chivhu in 2021. Since then, ZINWA has expanded the programme to several centres, including Murambinda, Guruve, Murehwa, Mutoko, Nyanga, Hwange, Gokwe, Filabusi, Karoi and Glendale.
Bikita Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Anorld Mtuke said as a stakeholder they were informed and are reporting progress.
“ZINWA is the one responsible for the installation at Nyika growth point but as stakeholder we are aware and they have been reporting progress The prepaid water meters are expected to improve revenue collection, enhance accountability and provide residents with a more reliable water supply and so residents should cooperate as this is for our good,” said Mtuke
The rollout forms part of ZINWA’s long-term plan to have all centres under its jurisdiction operating on prepaid water metering systems, a move the authority believes will improve operational efficiency while promoting responsible water consumption.
