Association to tackle the city’s problems
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) held its General Council Meeting on Sunday 14 August 2011 at the Cillas Conference Centre in Bulawayo. The General Council was attended by 80 residents who hold the posts of chairperson and Secretary for Administration in the BPRA committees from each of Bulawayo’s 29 wards, the Executive Council and the Board. The General Council was held to evaluate the activities of the association so far in 2011 and to map out strategies for the future. The General Council made the following resolutions on pertinent developments in the City of Bulawayo. These recommendations shall guide the programming of the association in the coming months.
Teachers’ incentives
Problem - It was noted that teachers incentives are problematic as they have made it difficult for parents, hard-hit by Zimbabwe’s tough economic climate, to send their children to school. It was also noted that some schools were charging inflated teachers’ incentives in order for teachers to pocket more.
Resolution - The gathering resolved that incentives remain necessary in retaining teachers in light of the economic situation in the country that is making it difficult for the government to give teachers salaries above the poverty datum line. In light of that, it was decided that the position of BPRA on teacher’s incentives should be that parents should continue subsidising teachers’ allowances. However it was stressed that the incentives should only be ten percent of approved school levies and that efforts should be made to ensure that there is no corruption in schools in the handling of teachers’ incentives.
Home Affairs – Police corruption and inefficiency of the registrar’s office
Problem - The general council noted with concern poor services at the Registrar Generals office that was making it difficult and cumbersome for Bulawayo residents to access passports, birth certificates and national identity documents. Dismay was also raised over corruption by the police, especially the traffic section, that the gathering argued was responsible for the carnage on Bulawayo roads.
Resolution - The general council agreed that BPRA should engage with the Ministry of Home Affairs over continued corruption by police officers, especially in the traffic section. The gathering also resolved that the association should lobby the Ministry of Home Affairs to improve issuing of birth certificates, passports and national identity documents.
Industry, Marginalisation and the water crisis
Problem - The General Council also expressed dismay over the defunct state of Bulawayo Industries that had increased unemployment in the city. This dearth of industry in Bulawayo was attributed to marginalisation. Concerns were also raised about the failure of the government and the local authority to come up with lasting solutions to Bulawayo’s water woes.
Resolution - The general council resolved that BPRA should weigh in on the debate on marginalisation and de-industrialisation of Bulawayo. The gathering unanimously agreed that it is no myth that Matabeleland is marginalised, but a fact that should be dealt with. It was decided that the association should react to insults that the people of Matabeleland are lazy when the reality is that opportunities are scarce in the region due to systematic sidelining. The gathering decided that the association should engage in concerted efforts to engage policy makers from the region on the pertinent issue of re-industrialisation of Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA)
Problem - The gathering expressed dismay over the failure of ZESA to ease load shedding and follow the ruling of the Competition Tariffs Commission (CTC) to reduce tariffs by 43 percent. Concerns were also raised about the failure of the power utility to stick to the load shedding time table.
Resolution - Delegates resolved that further action should be embarked in to get ZESA to comply with the CTC ruling to reduce tariffs by 43 percent. It was noted that contrary to reports in the media in February this year, ZESA had not complied with the CTC ruling, but rather effected a discount on rates charged between February 2009 and February 2011. It was agreed that the reality on the ground was that tariffs were still exorbitant in light of continued load shedding; hence there was a need for urgent action to force the Parastatal to comply with the ruling of the commission and reduce load shedding. Proposals given included continuing with legal action and demonstrating against the power utility.
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