GRACE ZVENYIKA
The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has started indexing water tariffs in USD beginning June 1 to preserve the value of the revenue collected in view of galloping inflation mainly caused by the depreciation of the local currency.
In an interview with The Midweek Watch, ZINWA Corporate Communication and Marketing manager, Marjorie Munyonga confirmed the development.
“Yes, we have now implemented the USD indexed tariffs and the move has been necessitated by the need to preserve the value of water bills in light of the current exchange rate fluctuations,” she said.
Munyonga added that the fluctuations in the local currency have triggered sharp increases in the prices of critical materials like chemicals, spares, fuel, electricity needed in the proper provision of both untreated and treated water to the stakeholders.
“In line with the current Government position on the use of multicurrencies and the need to promote the use of the local currency, clients are free to settle their bills in their currency of choice using the prevailing auction rate on the day of payment,” added Munyonga.
Munyonga went on to say that all outstanding balances have been converted to USD.
“All outstanding balances have also been converted to foreign currency as a way of preserving the value of the money owed to ZINWA,” she added.
The USD prices apply to both raw and untreated water.
