- ZESA will install prepaid and smart meters in government buildings, parastatals, and commercial farms to enforce upfront payments and stop debt accumulation.
- The initiative boosts revenue collection, ensures billing accuracy, and supports investor confidence through transparent, cost-reflective tariffs.
During an energy sector briefing in Harare, Zimbabwe’s Energy and Power Development Minister, July Moyo, stated that the metering initiative forms part of broader government reforms to make ZESA financially sustainable through cost-reflective tariffs.
Consumers must pay before using electricity, while smart meters offer real-time usage monitoring, remote billing, and disconnection capabilities. Both systems improve billing accuracy, eliminate estimated charges, and ensure upfront payment, helping ZESA collect revenue more consistently.
Moyo confirmed that ZESA must complete the rollout by October. “By October, ZESA will put farmers on prepaid, Government Ministries on prepaid, and parastatals on prepaid,” he said.
He noted that prepaid meters have helped ZESA improve compliance and reduce arrears among households. However, the utility continues struggling to recover debts from public institutions and large-scale users, limiting its ability to invest in grid upgrades, power generation, and network expansion.
“This is to ensure access to international finance,” Moyo added. “Because the investors can see that the collection is there.”
The metering initiative is part of broader energy sector reforms tied to cost-reflective tariffs and increased private investment. The government hopes the transition will position ZESA on a path to financial sustainability while ensuring more transparent and efficient power distribution across the country.