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