Alert - BPRA Launches “Meet the Candidates” Meetings

BULAWAYO Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) will this weekend (13 and 14 July 2013) begin its “Meet the Candidates Series” meetings which will bring together aspiring Members of Parliament and Councillors to explain to the residents of Bulawayo what they have to offer should they win elections. The meetings will also provide a platform for residents to question the aspiring officials on critical issues such as service delivery and policy issues. Twelve meetings will be held at constituency level, one in each of the twelve constituencies of Bulawayo, and twenty nine held at ward level, one in each of the city’s twenty-nine wards before the 31 July plebiscite. The meetings will be inclusive of all political parties and independents, with all candidates invited.

At the meetings, each candidate will be given a platform to address residents and inform them of his/her policies and what he/she has to offer once elected into office. There will also be plenary sessions where residents will get the opportunity to pose questions to the candidates.

The meetings are being held in line with BPRA’s quest to create a culture of accountability and deliberation in governance. The meetings will ensure that residents vote from an informed point of view and are able to elect candidates who best meet their expectations. The meetings will also ensure that whichever candidates are victorious in the elections understand fully issues of priority to the residents of Bulawayo, thus contributing to pro-citizen policies, improved governance and improved service delivery after the plebiscite.

This will not be the first time that BPRA holds meetings of this nature. In 2008, prior to the harmonised elections, the association held similar meetings in conjunction with Bulawayo Agenda. The meetings were hailed by residents as critical in advancing a culture of democracy, hence the association saw it fit to organise similar meetings this time around.

The schedule for the meetings for this weekend is as follows:

Constituency Meet the Candidates Series (Members of Parliament)

Date	Constituency	Venue	Time
Sat 13/07/13	Nketa	Nketa Hall	10am-1pm
Sat 13/07/13	Pumula	Old Pumula Hall	2pm-4.30pm
Sun 14/07/13	Lobengula	Lobengula Hall	9am-12noon
Sun 14/07/13	Pelandaba-Mpopoma	Mabuthweni Hall	2pm-4.30pm

Ward Meet the Candidates Series (Councillors)

Date	Ward	Venue	Time
Sat 13/07/13	Ward 22	Nkulumane Hall	9am – 12 noon
Sat 13/07/13	Ward 15	Beit Hall	10am -1pm
Sat 13/07/13	Ward 18	Magwegwe Hall	9am – 12 noon
Sat 13/07/13	Ward 13	Iminyela Hall	2pm – 4.30pm
Sat 13/07/13	Ward 21	Sizinda Hall	2pm – 4.30pm
Sat 13/07/13	Ward 29	Church of Christ	2pm – 4.30pm
Sun 14/07/13	Ward 20	Phekiwe Beer Garden	10am – 1pm
Sun 14/07/13	Ward 11	Emakhandeni Hall	2pm – 4.30pm
Sun 14/07/13	Ward 17	Pumula North Hall	2pm – 4.30pm
Sun 14/07/13	Ward 27	Pumula South Hall	10am – 1pm

Regards

Information Department

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association

Bus. Tel: +263 9 61196

Cell: +263 772 516 729

Website: www.bulawayoresidents.org

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