Plumtree Town Council has invited bids from service providers for the supply, installation, and maintenance of prepaid water meters and vending systems, marking its official step toward digitizing municipal water access. While officials argue the system will reduce water losses, enhance billing accuracy, and improve service delivery, civil society groups and human rights experts are…
The Government of Zimbabwe has officially begun installing prepaid smart water meters across Zimbabwe, starting with high-density suburbs in Harare. The initiative, part of a broader Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) model, aims to improve water management, reduce losses, and enhance revenue collection. A total of 600,000 meters will be deployed, with 320,000 allocated to…
Lawmakers voiced caution on Wednesday as the Government defended plans to transfer water supply duties to private providers in urban areas. Hon. Makumire cited international cases, including Bolivia and France, where privatization led to improved delivery—but also to profit-driven models that risk excluding poor communities. “What measures have been put in place to ensure low-income…
A heated debate unfolded in Parliament this week over the potential privatization of urban water provision, with the Government declaring that private sector involvement could improve efficiency and service delivery. Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi stated that local authorities have “dismally failed” to deliver clean and safe water, prompting a shift toward…
Civic groups are urging Parliament and ZEC to enshrine water and sanitation standards into Zimbabwe’s electoral law. Drawing from their by-election findings, MIHR is advocating for the amendment of the Electoral Act to include rights-based benchmarks for water and sanitation in polling stations. Recommendations include: sex-separated toilets, minimum potable water per official, handwashing stations, and…
Water delivered to polling stations during Zimbabwe’s by-elections has come under scrutiny after civic observers reported concerns over potability and hygiene. According to MIHR, water was delivered late, stored in bin containers and old gallons, and in some cases left unreplenished throughout the day. Polling officials hesitated to drink the water, citing unclean containers and…
When polling officials opened their stations on December 9, many were met with mobile toilets they didn’t know how to operate. According to MIHR, all 39 tent polling stations with mobile toilets lacked guidance or training, resulting in malfunctioning units, foul smells, and poor hygiene. In Makokoba, one shared toilet filled up quickly and leaked…
