Residents being cheated out of social welfare benefits

BPRA Weekend Activity Update (23-24 June 2012

THIS weekend Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) held four consultative meetings and two leadership trainings in the different wards in the city. The issue that stood out the most is that of the Harmonised Social Cash Transfer (HSCT) where residents of ward 18 in Magwegwe township complained that the scheme is being abused by a syndicate of well-connected residents in the area.

The HSCT is a pilot government social welfare programme which should be fully managed and administered by the Department of Social Welfare. The scheme is currently active in only six wards in Bulawayo. It involves disadvantaged members of the community like children, the elderly, the disabled and unemployed who receive certain amounts of money to cushion them from the harsh economic climate. In Magwegwe however, this scheme has been hijacked by influential people in the ward, who are reportedly denying residents who were initially drafted into the scheme access to the funds. The funds are distributed through Child Protection Committees (CPCs) in the wards. Residents alleged at the meeting that it is the CPCs that are corrupt.

In some cases those who were found eligible to receive the funds are said to be receiving far less than they are supposed to as some youths in the ward collect the money on their behalf and then deduct as much as $20 from each recipient’s sum in what they say are service charges for collecting the money for them.

BPRA is currently investigating the issue and is committed to getting to the bottom of the issue in order ensure that the corrupt elements in the community that are abusing the residents’  funds and trust are reported to the police and face the full wrath of the law.

Regards

Information Department

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association

Bus. Tel: +263 9 61196

Cell: +263 772 516 729

Website: www.bprazim.org

Press Release - BPRA Supports WOZA’s Devolution Protests

Press Release - BPRA Supports WOZA’s Devolution Protests

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) supports the efforts that Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) is making towards ensuring that devolution of power is included in the new constitution. The pressure group has been staging demonstrations calling for devolution of power in the wake of the refusal by ZANU PF to include the concept in the new constitution despite the fact that Zimbabweans overwhelmingly demanded it during the constitutional outreach process.

BPRA would like to put it on record that it supports any attempts by any organisation to ensure that devolution of power is included in the new charter. BPRA believes that devolution is the only way to end the marginalization of Matabeleland, Midlands and Manicaland, and empower all provinces in the country to take charge of their destinies by enabling them to assume control of their development. In line with this, the association will not accept any constitution that does not have devolution of power.

The association would like to stress that it is a misconception that devolution of power will divide the country or lead to disintegration of the state. Instead what devolution will do is facilitate the sharing of power among the various spheres and levels of government, allowing people more influence in decision making at the local level and promoting citizen participation in governance. Ultimately, devolution of power will ensure equitable development,  efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of public services, thus improving the livelihoods of Zimbabweans.

Signed

................................................

Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu

Programmes and Advocacy Manager

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)

Alert - BPRA Weekend Activities (23-24 June 2012)

Alert - BPRA Weekend Activities (23-24 June 2012)

This weekend (23-24 June 2012), Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) will be holding four consultative meetings, two leadership training workshops in the wards. The consultative meeting are aimed at giving residents feedback on service delivery issues as well as allow them to raise issues that affect them in the wards to their community leaders. The respective ward councillors are expected to be at these meetings. The leadership workshops are aimed at capacitating community leaders and residents with the knowledge of policies and skills that can help them articulate and better deal with the development challenges their communities face on a day to day basis.

The schedule for the activities is as follows:

Ward	Date	Activity	Venue	Time
Ward 16	Sat 23/06/12	Consultative Meeting	Methodist Church	2pm-5pm
Ward 18	Sat 23/06/12	Consultative Meeting	Magwegwe hall	101m-1pm
ward 6	Sat 23/06/ 12	Leadership Training	Founders High School	10am -4pm
Ward 29	Sat 23/06/ 12	Leadership Training	Church Of Christ	10am-4pm
Ward 9	Sun 24/06/12	Consultative Meeting	Mpopoma Hall	9am-1pm
Ward 23	Sun 24/06/12	Consultative Meeting	Queen Elizabeth Pry School	9am-1pm

Hope to see you at these meetings.

Regards

Information Department

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association

Bus. Tel: +263 9 61196

Cell: +263 772 516 729

Website: www.bprazim.org

Press Statement - ZINARA Taking Zimbabweans for Granted

 

Date:               6 June 2012

Contact:         Emmanuel Ndlovu

                        Programmes and Advocacy Manager

                        Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)

BULAWAYO Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) views the backtracking by the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA)  on its decision to extend the deadline for motorists to acquire new license discs as a sign that the institution takes the people of Zimbabwe for granted. BPRA also sees the decision as an indication of confusion among the leadership at the institution. ZINARA last Wednesday moved the deadline for motorists to get the discs from 31 May 2012 to 30 June 2012 citing that there was need to afford motorists more time to acquire them as outlets providing them were being overwhelmed. The institution however reneged on its word yesterday when it announced that the deadline extension had been cancelled. This means that with immediate effect motorists without the new discs will be liable to a fine of $20 if they run into the police.

BPRA is concerned that the cancelation of the deadline extension will result in a police blitz on motor vehicles to target drivers who have not yet obtained the new discs, which would be tantamount to extorting money from motorists. This is particularly problematic as the traffic police have proven to be corrupt and usually solicit for bribes from motorists. The ZINARA move could thus in essence fuel the corruption that is prevalent on the country’s roads.

It is also BPRA’s contention that motorists have not been given enough time to access the new discs. Worse still, in Bulawayo, the only two Zimpost outlets, the Main Post Office and Famona Post Office, that are providing them are being overwhelmed with scores of drivers turned away today (Wednesday 6 June 2012). BPRA thus calls on ZINARA to revert to its earlier decision to extend the deadline. Secondly, BPRA urges the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Traffic Section to spare motorists who have not yet obtained the license discs from paying fines.   

Signed

.........................................................

Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu

Programmes and Advocacy Manager

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)

Alert – BPRA Activity for the Past Weekend (3 June 2012)

ON Sunday 3 June 2012, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) held a leadership training workshop in Ward 6 which covers areas such as Barham Green, Bellevue and west Somerton. The workshop covered two modules, namely the Urban Councils Act and the Environmental Management Act to help community leaders understand the laws that have to do with the exercise of power and distribution of resources in their localities as well as the responsibilities they have on the environment.

The training which was attended by 15 leaders from the ward highlighted the need for all local leaders to understand the Urban Councils Act and how sections in this act could enhance or limit their effectiveness in their community leadership strategies. Their rights and responsibilities with regards the environment were also emphasised as participants highlighted how all livelihood was linked to a healthy natural environment.

BPRA has been holding leadership trainings in every ward covering the two laws in a project known as the Residents Leadership Development Programme. Other modules covered under the project include participatory budgeting and gender budgeting. The workshops are aimed at ensuring that community leaders are equipped with the right knowledge on issues that they face and that affect their areas on a day to day basis to enable them to advocate for better livelihoods.

Regards

Information Department

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association

Bus. Tel: +263 9 61196

Cell: +263 772 516 729

Website: www.bprazim.org

Residents Voices – Issue 76

Residents Welcome BUPTA Move

BULAWAYO residents have welcomed the move by the Bulawayo Public Transporters Association (BUPTA) to alter its United States dollar to South African Rand exchange rate from the 1:7 that is prevalent in most commuter omnibuses to 1:8 which better matches the current official rate. Residents said the move was welcome as it meant that they would no longer lose out on their hard earned cash through what they termed ‘a deliberate ploy by kombi drivers and conductors to fleece them.’ Under the 1:7 rate, residents effectively lose a rand for each dollar whenever they pay in United States Dollars and get their change in Rands. Residents also called upon other transport operators to follow suit as it is unfair for them to be using the 1:7 rate despite gains that the United States Dollar has made against the Rand on the international market. Tshova Mubaiwa commuter omnibuses are also using the 1:8 exchange rate.

The problems being faced with the use of a multi-currency system in Bulawayo stem from the fact that while most employees get their salaries in dollars, use of Rands is also widespread due to the close proximity of the city to South Africa and the influence of thousands of Zimbabweans from the Matabeleland region working in South Africa. The Rand and the United States Dollar thus compete as legal tender in Bulawayo, giving rise to the problem of cross rates – which has often been characterised as giving leeway for transport operators and other traders to fleece the public through altering prices and exchange rates. Economists have previously called upon the government to ensure that all business operators stick to daily international exchange rates.

Regards

Information Department

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association

Bus. Tel: +263 9 61196

Cell: +263 772 516 729

Website: www.bprazim.org

   

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)

Statement on ZESA's unrelenting power cuts

Date:                     14 May 2012

Contact:               Emmanuel Ndlovu

                              Programmes and Advocacy Manager

                              Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)

Subject:                 ZESA ripping residents off

It is indeed disheartening that more than a decade after The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) began its severe load shedding routine; the utility still has not come up with alternatives for increased power generation to residents. The utility seems to be taking comfort in that residents have, through their own, started to spend their hard earned and merger wages on power substitutes like generators, jelly stoves, gas and solar power panels while ZESA seems content with the same means of power generation as before.

 The authority recently announced that it will be intensifying power rationing to as much as 9 hours per day for each household this winter. The power utility has also released new load shedding schedules in some parts of Bulawayo, a reflection that the company is unwavering in its move.

Despite the increasing costs to rate payers, and some of the deals ZESA has embarked on with countries like Botswana, this seems to have done little to ease the power shortages and ZESA continues to blame everything on vandalism and failure by residents to pay their bills.

Furthermore, hundreds of thousands of residents are still on fixed rates despite a commitment by ZESA to install prepaid meters in every household to ensure that no household pays more than they have used. In light of this oversight, why has ZESA not been able to calculate how much extra money it is making from fixed rates of residents who still pay even when they go for long hours without electricity? Why are the figures always one sided and never reflective of how short changed the residents have been for the last decade plus years.

Recently, a ZESA power substation was gutted by fire in Emakhandeni leaving Luveve, Lobhengula, Magwegwe, Emakhandeni and other surrounding areas without power. It has been more than a week since the outage, but residents are still in the dark. What is troubling is that, come month end, these residents are expected to pay their full bills at fixed rates. BPRA believes that residents can only feel comfortable paying for a service that they are guaranteed to get.

It is time that ZESA and the authorities that be faced reality and accepted that the problem is way out of their league. New players must come into the fold before the whole system totally collapses.

............................................................

Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu

Programmes and Advocacy Manager

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)

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