Harare Resident Sues City and Helcraw Over ‘Unlawful’ Prepaid Water Meters

HARARE – A courageous Harare resident has dragged the City of Harare and its controversial partner, Helcraw Water, to the High Court, challenging the legality and human rights implications of the capital’s prepaid water meter rollout. The lawsuit, filed by Bernadette Makaya of Mabelreign, represents a significant escalation in the public outcry against a system widely condemned as unjust, opaque, and a direct assault on citizens’ fundamental right to water.

Makaya, represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, has launched an urgent application against the City of Harare, Helcraw Water, and the Minister of Local Government and Public Works. Her legal challenge seeks to immediately suspend the implementation and further rollout of prepaid water meters, arguing that the entire program is a flagrant violation of existing water laws and by-laws.

At the core of Makaya’s compelling affidavit is the assertion that the prepaid water meter system fundamentally departs from Harare’s long-established post-paid billing model. For generations, residents received water and settled their accounts based on consumption. However, the system introduced by the City of Harare and Helcraw Water in 2025 demands upfront payment, with automatic disconnections when credit is depleted – a stark and punitive shift.

Makaya meticulously points out that the legal framework governing water provision in Harare, specifically the Harare Water By-Laws of 1913 and the Urban Councils Act, exclusively provides for a post-paid system. She contends that the introduction of prepaid meters without corresponding legal amendments renders the entire initiative unlawful and an overreach of authority.

“The introduction of pre-paid water meters by City of Harare and Helcraw Water is not supported by any legal instrument,” Makaya’s application forcefully states. It further alleges that the authorities have breached their “duty to act lawfully which is reposed on them as administrative authorities in terms of section 3 of the Administrative Justice Act,” highlighting a profound disregard for administrative justice.

The lawsuit also zeroes in on the alarming practice of automatic water disconnections. Makaya argues that the immediate cutoff of water supply upon credit exhaustion bypasses critical statutory safeguards that mandate written notice before essential services can be terminated. The convenience of checking a credit balance on an indoor monitor, she asserts, is no substitute for the legally required formal notification .

Adding to the grievances, Makaya’s application underscores the glaring absence of public consultation. Residents, the primary stakeholders, were reportedly not engaged before this monumental shift in water supply and billing was imposed. This lack of democratic process on a matter so vital to public health and daily life speaks volumes about the City’s and Helcraw’s approach.

The involvement of Helcraw Water, a company reportedly linked to Zanu PF legislator Farai Jere, casts a long shadow over the entire project . This connection raises serious questions about potential conflicts of interest and undue political influence in the procurement and execution of a public service contract of this magnitude. The government’s apparent intention to expand this model to other urban centers only intensifies these concerns, suggesting a pattern of questionable governance .

Makaya’s affidavit further exposes the system’s inherent lack of transparency. The prepaid meter at her property is encased in a locked black box, effectively denying residents the ability to independently verify readings. This forces users to rely solely on a small, internal monitor, fostering an environment ripe for distrust and lacking accountability.

This High Court battle transcends a mere dispute over billing; it is a critical fight for the fundamental human right to access clean, affordable water. Critics argue that by making water access conditional on upfront payment and enforcing automatic disconnections, the City of Harare and Helcraw Water are effectively commodifying a basic human need, with potentially devastating consequences for vulnerable households .

As the High Court prepares to deliberate on this landmark case, all eyes will be on the proceedings. The outcome will not only determine the future of prepaid water meters in Harare but will also serve as a crucial test of legal accountability, transparency, and the protection of human rights in Zimbabwe’s public service delivery.