Harare City Council has torched a storm following its
proposal to increase water charges by at least 900 percent, while some
ratepayers will now be charged in foreign currency.
Water charges will increase from $0.80 cents to $7 per
cubic metre. According to minutes of a joint meeting of the Finance and
Development as well as the Human Resources and General purposes committees,
council also resolved to charge in foreign currency, companies receiving forex
for their goods and services.
“That the town clerk and acting finance director pursues the
proposal to charge certain ratepayers or customers or services or products in
foreign currency after applying for obtaining the necessary exemptions referred
to in the preamble above from Government,” read the minutes.
In a statement yesterday, Harare also mulled plans to hike
water charges saying that has been pushed by the increase of water treatment
chemicals, cost of electricity among other variables.
“Harare is proposing to increase water charges from $ 0.80c
per cubic meter to around $ 7.00 to allow adequate funding of the water
sector,” reads the statement. The cost of water treatment chemicals has
increased by a factor of more than 10 since all chemicals are either 100
percent imports or have major forex components.
“The cost of electricity which is the second cost driver in
water treatment and conveyance has also gone up. It has, therefore, become
necessary to review the cost of water.”
The city is in the process of testing new chemicals, with
the objective of improving efficiencies and effectiveness in the water
treatment process.
“The current water shortages are a result of drought,
inadequate water sources and the inconsistent water pricing structure against
the cost of production. Many suburbs are going without water. The city is
appealing to consumers to understand the situation and embrace the impending
price adjustment that will ensure viability of the water sector. Council has
engaged Government for the drilling of more boreholes and construction of new
water sources,” reads the statement. Herald
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