Date: 23 June 2014
Contact:
Zibusiso Dube
Information
Manager
0776
423 510
Residents to March Against Prepaid Water
Bulawayo residents, led
by Civic Society Organisations (CSOs) in Bulawayo under the banner of the
Anti-Prepaid Water Meter Campaign will on Friday 27 June 2014 take to the
streets protesting against the Bulawayo City Council’s (BCC’s) move to
introduce prepaid water meters in the city. The peaceful march shall be carried
out in Cowdray Park from 10am at ‘the sign post’ and proceed to the ward’s
council offices where a petition will be handed over to local authority
officials. The Mayor of Bulawayo, Councillor Martin Moyo shall be requested to
be present to receive the petition. BCC intends to pilot test prepaid water
meters in Cowdray Park’s Hlalani Kuhle area before rolling out the devices to
the rest of the city. Organisations that are participating in the Anti-Prepaid
Water Meter Campaign include the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association
(BPRA), the Public Policy Research Institute of Zimbabwe (PPRIZ), Radio
Dialogue, Bulawayo Agenda, the National Youth Development Trust, the Women’s
Institute of Leadership Development, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, the
Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD), Ibhetshu LikaZulu, the
Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Enterprises (ZCIEA) and Christian Legal
Society. The CSOs are mobilising 1000 residents to participate in the march.
The march follows the
successful holding of an awareness campaign by the participating CSOs where
sixty-five volunteers conducted a door
to door campaign in Cowdray Park’s Hlalani Kuhle area on Saturday 21 June 2014
educating residents on the merits and demerits of prepaid water meters, and
conscientising them on the possible effects of introducing the devices. Based
on desktop research on what happened after introduction of prepaid water meters
in many parts of Africa, the participating organisations’ position is that
prepaid water meters are not suitable as a water management system in Zimbabwe.
In terms of the research, the gadgets led to an outbreak of cholera in Madlebe
in KwaZulu Natal, leading to loss of life, and seriously undermined the right
to water in many poor communities. They also led to social disintegration and
regression of women’s gains in gender equality. Consultations in Bulawayo have
also revealed that most residents are against the move to introduce prepaid
water meters. The campaign thus seeks to encourage the city fathers to rescind
the decision to introduce the gadgets.
Regards
……………………………………………..
BPRA Information
Manager
Zibusiso Dube
