The City of Harare is actively modernizing its water infrastructure by installing more than 15,000 smart prepaid water meters, aiming to mitigate losses and enhance billing accuracy amid ongoing water supply challenges. This initiative is in collaboration with Helcraw Electrical and is part of a comprehensive strategy to address the persistent issues affecting water supply in the city.

As of March 2026, the installation figures have already exceeded 18,000 meters, with plans to intensify the rollout following the importation of an additional 60,000 meters into Zimbabwe. Initial beneficiaries of this modernization include neighborhoods such as Belvedere, Westlea, Mabelreign, and Warren Park. The initiative has been positively received by residents who previously dealt with estimated billing, now appreciating the transition to a prepaid metering system.

Residents have expressed that prepaid meters foster fairness and accountability, eliminating prior disputes typical of estimated billing practices. The new system ensures that households only pay for their actual water consumption, representing a significant shift toward better resource management and reliability in the city’s water distribution efforts.