Posted on 11 March 2013
THIS past weekend
(09 &10 March 2013), Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) held
three consultative meetings in Pumula South (Ward 27), Gwabalanda (Ward 16) and
Njube (ward 12). The meetings were meant to provide platforms for residents to engage
in dialogue with representatives from Bulawayo City Council (BCC) and the
Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) on pertinent issues of service
delivery related to the operations of the institutions. ZESA representatives
however did not attend the meetings. The meeting in Pumula South was held on
Saturday 9 March 2013 and was attended by the councillor for the ward, Siboniso
Khumalo and eighty three residents (38 Females and 45 Males). The one in Gwabalanda was also held on Saturday
9 March 2013 and was graced by the councillor for ward 15, Israel Mabaleka and
attended by 78 residents (32 Males and 46 Females). Lastly the meeting held in
Njube on Sunday 10 March 2013 was attended by 112 residents (80 Females and 32
Males). The councillor for the ward was not present, but the meeting went ahead
as planned with residents voicing their concerns on service delivery issues.
The main issues
discussed at the three meetings were as follows:
·
Bulawayo’s water crisis inevitably dominated discussions at
all the meetings. Residents demanded to know if there were any plans to build
new dams in Bulawayo. They argued that Bulawayo’s water woes were due to lack
of vision by successive governments and local authorities since independence.
They said it was inevitable for the city to face water shortages since there
had been no dam built since 1976. Residents also expressed concerns with the
fact that Bulawayo’s water chemicals are running out. They called upon BCC to
resolve the issue immediately to make sure that residents have access to clean
drinking water.
·
Residents once again alleged that the local authority’s water
billing system was flawed as they continued to receive high bills despite water
shedding for 3 days a week. Some of the residents revealed that their meter
readings were not in-sync with readings at BCC. They said this was an indication
that residents were being fleeced by use of estimates. They called upon BCC to
invest in meter readers and refrain from estimated readings.
·
Concerns were raised
that BCC was continuing to attach and seize the properties of some residents
with arrears. Residents said while they understood that this was the legal
route to take, they believed that BCC was being inconsiderate by failing to
understand that the country’s economic situation was dire thus residents
genuinely cannot afford to pay their dues. They implored the local authority to
allow residents to make payment plans as opposed to seizing their properties.
·
Residents also complained about the poor state of roads in
Bulawayo. They said the situation could lead to increase in road carnage as
motorists often flout traffic regulations in an attempt to avoid pot holes.
·
Lastly, residents bemoaned the failure by BCC to collect
refuse on a weekly basis as used to be the case yesteryear. They said it was
imperative for the local authority to refocus its attention to service delivery
as opposed to staff salaries.
Regards
Information
Department
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association
Bus.
Tel: +263 9 61196
Cell:
+263 772 516 729
Blog:
bprainfo.blogspot.com
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