PRESS STATEMENT - BPRA Condemns Auctioning of Residents' Properties

Date:              3 April 2012

Contact:         Rodrick Fayayo

                        Coordinator

                        Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)

BPRA Condemns Auctioning of Residents’ Properties

BULAWAYO Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) condemns in the strongest terms possible the auctioning of property belonging to residents with arrears by the Bulawayo City Council. Despite claims by councillors and council authorities that they have the residents’ best interests at heart, BPRA believes this latest move indicates that the city fathers have no regard for the plight of residents they serve, and are not in touch with the reality that people are having difficulty meeting their obligations due to the economic crisis the country is facing.

BPRA is also disturbed to note that while the BCC is owed money not only by residents but also by scores of commercial operators and government departments none of the latter’s property is reported to have been attached or sold at the auctions. It seems then that the city fathers are practising double standards and preying on vulnerable residents. BPRA thus questions why it is easy for the city fathers to deprive already struggling residents of the little property they own before going after bigger debtors or even taking time to sit them down to discuss alternatives for debt recovery.

While BPRA acknowledges that residents are obliged to pay their bills, the association feels that BCC is being insensitive in light of the fact that the country is still facing serious economic challenges with unemployment levels as high as 80% and the few employed earning way below the poverty datum line hence most people cannot afford to pay their bills, while they struggle to keep body and soul together. The association proposes that the municipality should hold consultative meetings around the city’s 29 wards to highlight the issue of debts, the challenges council is facing due to them and what methods residents can employ to clear their debts. BPRA believes that BCC has failed to sufficiently engage with residents on how debts can be dealt with.

Signed

Mr Rodrick Fayayo

Coordinator

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)