Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights , representing Harrae resident, Bernadette Makaya has approached the High Court to suspend the installation of prepaid water meters.
The programme spearheaded by the local authority and Helcraw Water has been criticised by many as anti people as water seems to have become expensive under the programme.
“We have filed an application at High Court seeking an order suspending the implementation & roll-out of the pre-paid water system in Harare by City of Harare & Helcraw Water. In an application filed on Monday at High Court, Bernadette Makaya, a resident of Harare, who is represented by Tinashe Chinopfukutwa of ZLHR argues that the provision & distribution of water in the City of Harare is governed by the Harare Water By-Laws of 1913 & the provisions of the Urban Councils Act and these only provide for a post-paid water distribution system in Harare & not for a pre-paid water system,” reads a post on ZLHR X handle.
As a result, Makaya contends that City of Harare and Helcraw Water acted unlawfully by implementing a pre-paid water system in Harare in the face of the Harare Water By-Laws, which only provide for a post-paid water metering system.
The Harare resident argues that the introduction of pre-paid water meters by City of Harare and Helcraw Water is not supported by any legal instrument & hence the duo has breached their duty to act lawfully which is reposed on them as administrative authorities in terms of section 3 of the Administrative Justice Act.
