By Ziyah News Network
THE Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) notified the Municipality of Beitbridge that it will install a prepaid electricity meter at the town’s water treatment plant.
Residents in Beitbridge could face further disruptions to water supplies.
The development was revealed by Town Clerk Loud Ramakgapola during Monday’s full council meeting.
He said the move could negatively affect the municipality’s ability to pump and treat water if the prepaid meter is not adequately funded.
“ZESA has notified us that it will install a prepaid meter at the water treatment plant. This will likely have a negative impact on water supplies,” Ramakgapola said.
He said they had advised the municipality’s Water Section to minimise electricity costs by operating the treatment plant during off-peak hours whenever possible.
“We encourage our Water Section to utilise off-peak hours to save on electricity costs,” he said.
Ramakgapola said the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works was negotiating with ZESA to review electricity tariffs charged to local authorities, arguing that the current commercial rates were no longer sustainable.
“It should be noted that the Ministry is negotiating with ZESA to reduce the commercial rates charged to local authorities because the current tariffs are not sustainable,” he said.
The warning comes as many suburbs in Beitbridge are already grappling with erratic water supplies.
Some neighbourhoods receive municipal water only twice a week, while others go for days without any water at all, forcing residents to rely on boreholes and other alternative sources.
The Municipality of Beitbridge relies on electrically powered pumps and treatment equipment to supply water to residents, businesses and institutions.
Any interruption to electricity at the treatment plant could further worsen the town’s already strained water supply situation.