Victoria Falls Prepaid Water Meters: Innovation or Inequality?

Jonathan JVan Sibanda

The Victoria Falls City Council has introduced a prepaid water metering pilot project, which officials say will enhance service delivery, improve water management, and promote accountability among consumers.

Town Clerk, Ronnie Dube said the new system will not affect how residents access water but will change how they pay for it.

“The first five units are free,” said Dube. “The prepaid water meter pilot project will not change the way water is accessed in Victoria Falls. What is changing is simply that people will now purchase tokens beforehand and top up their accounts. This is aimed at ensuring quality service and encouraging people to conserve the precious liquid.”

He said the system is designed to promote responsible water use while ensuring that residents only pay for what they consume.

Under the pilot scheme, consumers buy water tokens in advance from the Council’s Revenue Halls, where a data capturer generates the token after payment. The tokens are then loaded into the meters following instructions given during installation.

At present, tokens can only be purchased at council offices, but Dube said plans are underway to expand access. “It is envisaged that after some time and through partnerships, the tokens will be available through agents and online platforms,” he said.

Dube said the water tariffs remain unchanged under the prepaid model. Residents with existing arrears, however, will still be required to settle them through a gradual repayment arrangement.

“Seventy percent of each purchase is allocated to current water consumption, while 30 percent covers fixed and utility charges. In cases where there is an outstanding debt, 20 percent of the amount goes towards clearing that debt,” he said.He added that this arrangement allows the council to recover what it is owed without putting excessive pressure on residents.

According to Dube, participants in the pilot phase are not paying for the meters or installation costs.“In the pilot project, beneficiaries are not paying anything as the piloting entity is the one supplying the meters. In fact, beneficiaries were credited with free units,” he said.

The pilot project, which will run for three months, is being tested across all residential areas, with 10 households per density participating.

The introduction of prepaid water meters has stirred debate in various African cities. While proponents view the system as efficient and transparent, critics warn that it could restrict access for poor families who may be unable to buy tokens when funds are low.

Victoria Falls City Council says it has built-in in safeguards, such as a free basic water allocation for every household, to ensure that no resident is completely cut off.Nevertheless, some residents and analysts remain cautious, arguing that prepaid systems can shift the burden of ensuring access from government to individuals, potentially deepening inequalities.


The success of the prepaid metering project will depend on how effectively the city manages the balance between efficiency and social fairness. If implemented carefully, the system could reduce water losses, improve billing accuracy, and promote conservation. However, without consistent monitoring and strong protection measures for vulnerable groups, it could risk widening the gap between those who can afford uninterrupted service and those who cannot.

What is your experience with prepaid water meters in your area? Do you think this system is fair? Share your views with Matabeleland Pulse.