ABSTRACT
These three cities were not randomly selected from the capitals of the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) nations. The three all are, for example, Anglophone by colonial heritage. But the cities were also not chosen specifically because their income per capita has grown particularly rapidly in recent decades, at least by the usual indicators of growth. Two of the three (Ghana and Zimbabwe) have experienced negative growth in GDP per capita over the last few decades, and the third (Botswana) has grown the most rapidly of all SSA countries. There are big differences in the volume as well as the variety of urban services provided in these three cities. There is perhaps no better way to see these differences than in the water consumption data. There are many ways in which families in these cities can get “free” water, not just through illegal connections or unpaid bills.
