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| Residents follow proceedings at a conference held by Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) last year |
Bulawayo Progressive
Residents Association (BPRA) will on Saturday 10 November 2012 hold a Social
Accountability Conference meant to provide a platform for residents to dialogue
with ministers in the inclusive government on critical issues of development
and governance. The conference, which will be held at the Large City Hall from
0900hrs to 1700hrs will run under the theme “The Right to Know.” The
main objective of the conference is to strengthen the role of residents as
engaged partners in the governance process and to stimulate local participation
through engagement between the residents and holders of public office. At least 1200 delegates, mostly residents’
leaders from all of Bulawayo’s 29 wards are expected to attend the conference.
Other delegates will be drawn from political parties, civil society and the
religious sector. Speakers expected at the conference include the Minister of
Water Resources Development and Management, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, the Minister
of State Enterprises and Parastatals, Honourable Gorden Moyo, the Minister of
Education, Sports Arts and Culture, Hon David Coltart and the Minister of
Industry and Commerce, Honourable Welshman Ncube. Deputy Prime Minister,
Honourable Thokozani Khupe is expected to officially open the conference.
The holding of the Social
Accountability Conference is based on BPRA’s belief that holders of public
office should account to citizens for the work they do, as they are ultimately
in office at their behest and meant to advance public interests. In line with
this, the various ministers are expected to account to the residents of
Bulawayo, explaining what their ministries have been doing towards enhancing
development and promoting the welfare of residents. Minister Sipepa is expected to update
residents on what his ministry is doing to end Bulawayo’s water woes. He is
expected to focus on progress with the Mtshabezi pipeline, the Matabeleland
Zambezi Water Project and other projects meant to end Matabeleland’s water
problems. Meanwhile, Minister Moyo is expected to dwell on progress being made
by his ministry to resuscitate parastatals in light of the fact that most of
them are under-capitalised and failing to operate profitably and competitively.
Minister Coltart is expected to update residents on steps being taken by the government
to improve education in the country, and particularly in Matabeleland which has
complained of marginalisation in education. Lastly, Minister Ncube is expected
to appraise residents on efforts by his ministry to improve the performance of
industries as a central tool towards spurring economic growth in the country.
Inevitably, he will also have to answer questions on the issue of the
Distressed and Marginalised Areas Fund (DIMAF) which most people feel has
failed to solve problems of de-industrialisation in Matabeleland.
This will not be the
first time that BPRA holds a conference of this nature. The association held
its first Social Accountability Conference in 2012 which was attended by 800
delegates. Its follow up conference, a Service Delivery Conference which was
held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair on 11 September 2012 was graced
by 2000 delegates.
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