Flawed BCC Billing Causing Residents Untold Suffering

Press Release

Date:              18 March 2013

Contact:         Emmanuel Ndlovu

                       Programmes and Advocacy Manager

                       Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)

FLAWED BCC BILLING SYSTEM CAUSING RESIDENTS UNTOLD SUFFERING

BULAWAYO Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) is concerned that the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) continues to use estimates to bill residents, something which has led to residents being overbilled, causing numerous problems for them. Speaking at service delivery meetings held by BPRA in the past month, residents of Bulawayo have complained that their bills were sky rocketing despite the fact that a three day water shedding programme is currently in effect in the city. Residents argued that the BCC meter readings as captured in their billing system were ahead of the readings that the residents’ meters actually show in their homes. This means that BCC has been billing residents for water they have not consumed. This has particularly raised the ire of residents since some have been charged with water penalties while others have even had their properties seized based on estimated water readings. Others have had their water supplies disconnected.

BPRA thus calls upon the BCC to immediately put measures in place to put its billing system in order, perhaps through investing in more meter readers and desisting from estimated readings. BPRA has it on good authority that the city fathers themselves are aware of the flaws in their billing system, hence it amounts to dereliction of duty that the situation is being allowed to continue unaddressed at the expense of the residents of Bulawayo. Officials from the local authority’s department of finance last year acknowledged that the billing system was prone to overcharging consumers and suggested that residents with misgivings about their bills should feel free to visit their offices at the tower block.

BPRA is however appalled that BCC has made no efforts to inform residents of this anomaly, continuing to behave like its business as usual with residents in arrears (based on the faulty billing system) being charged penalties, having their water supplies disconnected and having their properties seized by the messenger of court. BPRA would like to call upon BCC to stop water disconnections, charging of penalties, and seizing of properties from residents with arrears until problems with the billing system are addressed. BPRA also calls upon the local authority, through its public relations department, to ensure that residents are informed that the city’s billing system is problematic so that they can ensure that they are not billed for water they have not consumed.

Signed

.........................................................

Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu

Programmes and Advocacy Manager

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)

BPRA Past Weekend Activities Report (9 and 10 March 2013)

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

Website: www.bulawayoresidents.org

Press Release - BPRA Lobbies Anti-Corruption Commission on BEAM and HSCTP

Press Release

Date:              28 February 2013

Contact:         Emmanuel Ndlovu

                        Programmes and Advocacy Manager

                        Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)

BPRA Lobbies Anti-Corruption Commission on BEAM and HSCTP

BULAWAYO Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) has written to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission requesting investigations into the administration of the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM)and the Harmonised Social Cash Transfer Programme (HSCTP). The investigations are meant to put to rest allegations of underhand dealings and corruption in the administration of the two programmes within the broader goal of promoting transparency and accountability in the operations of public institutions. The HSCTP is a social welfare project that is operated by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and aims at poverty alleviation through financial support to households living in extreme poverty. Meanwhile BEAM is a social welfare programme, operated by the same ministry that supports poor and vulnerable children with their education.

Investigations carried out by BPRA in 2012 in the six wards (ward 8, ward 14, ward 18, ward 19, ward 27 and ward 28) where the pilot phase of the HSCTP is in place revealed irregularities in the administration of the project with intended beneficiaries alleging that they were being fleeced of their handouts. Meanwhile residents of Bulawayo have previously complained that BEAM was not reaching the intended beneficiaries, with school heads, influential teachers and School Development Committees (SDC) members allegedly using their influence to enlist their kith and kin who do not need educational assistance.   

In the two letters, dated 26 February 2013 and addressed to the General Manager of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, BPRA requested investigations into the HSCTP and BEAM to ensure transparency and accountability in the operations of the two programmes in order to ensure that they adequately benefit the intended beneficiaries –underprivileged and vulnerable people. In a response to the letters today (28 February 2013), the  Anti-Corruption Commission wrote “Thank you for sending this vital information to us. Please note that you report will get the necessary attention and look forward to hearing from us soon.”

Please find attached copies of the letters that BPRA sent to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Signed

.........................................................

Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu

Programmes and Advocacy Manager

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)

Alert – BPRA Takes Chombo to Court Once Again

A scan of an article in today's Newsday on
 the filing  of an urgent High Court chamber
application seeking to bar Chombo from
appointing special interest councillors 

Published on 28 February 2013

BULAWAYO Progressive Residents Association (BPRA), has once again dragged Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo to court after he appointed two more special interest councillors in Bulawayo. The association, through its Ward 13 Chairperson, Alick Gumede, on Tuesday 26 February 2013 filed an urgent High Court chamber application seeking to block the appointment of two special interest councillors named as Sipiwe Ncube and Gacha Mazitulela. Minister Chombo appointed the two in letters dated 22 February 2013. Barely a month ago, the association, through its Secretary for People Living with Disabilities in Ward 13 successfully barred the swearing-in of another special interest councillor, Fidelis Fengu.

Alick Gumede, under the aegis of BPRA, through lawyer Job Sibanda argues in the application that the “appointments were grossly irregular as to defy common sense in that the very life of council to which they have been appointed comes to an end in the next month or so.” He further argues that: “such appointments shall not benefit council, but shall only drain the financial resources of the council to which applicant is a contributor by virtue of him being a ratepayer.”

BPRA has previously expressed concerns that the Urban Council’s Act (Chapter 29:15) invests too much power in the Minister of Local Government, allowing him too much leeway to undemocratically dictate the conduct of local authorities without consulting residents. It is BPRA’s contention that special interest councillors should not be imposed by a Minister, but should be selected by the residents in a democratic manner. As such BPRA rejects the appointment of Sipiwe Ncube and Gacha Mazitulela as special interest councillors as they were imposed by Minister Chombo without consultation of residents.

Please find attached a scan of a story in today’s Newsday for more information on the issue.

Regards

Information Department

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association

Bus. Tel: +263 9 61196

Cell: +263 772 516 729

www.bulawayoresidents.org

BPRA Past Weekend Activities Report (24 February 2013)

   

THIS Past weekend (Sunday 24 February 2013), Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) held two consultative meetings at Mpopoma Hall (ward 9) and McDonald’s Hall in Mzilikazi (ward 8). The meetings were meant to provide platforms for critical debate on issues of service delivery in the respective wards. The councillors for the wards were expected at the meetings. For the Mzilikazi meeting however, the councillor did not manage to attend the meeting. The meeting was thus turned into a platform for residents to voice their concerns on various issues of service delivery so that follow up (in the form of advocacy and lobbying) can be done by the BPRA secretariat. In Mpopoma, the councillor was present and the meeting progressed as planned with residents engaging with the councillor.

The major issues arising at the meetings were as follows:

-          Residents revealed that some tower lights in Mzilikazi were not working, something that had led to an upsurge in muggings in the area. They called upon the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to repair the tower lights with urgency.

-          Residents expressed concern with the local authority’s billing system arguing that their bills were inflated. They based their argument on realisations that their bills had remained at the same levels they were on before the commencement of water shedding in July 2012.

-          In Mpopoma, residents called upon the city council to ensure that people who are awarded tenders to lease out BCC owned shops employ residents from the area. They argued that this was the only way for the community to benefit from shops that are located in it due to the fact that residents in the area cannot afford to lease the shops out themselves.

-          Attendants also expressed dismay with the state of West Park Cemetery. They said the cemetery was not well maintained and said there was urgent need for BCC to deploy workers to maintain the grave site. It was agreed that the BPRA secretariat should pen a letter to the local authority’s director of health requesting that such maintenance work be immediately carried out.

-          Youths present at the meetings bemoaned the fact that the youth clubs in Bulawayo were not functioning. They said there was urgent need for the clubs to be resuscitated so that young people can engage their time in useful activities as opposed to loitering in the streets and shops drinking alcohol. The youth also requested to be given pieces of land to engage in developmental projects.

-          Residents from Thokozani Flats in Mzilikazi revealed that they share electricity meters with their neighbours, a situation that had become problematic since the installation of prepaid meters. They said it was difficult for two families to agree on the amounts to spend per month on electricity especially in situations whereby one household uses more electricity than the other. They called upon ZESA to address this issue.

-          The issue of Bulawayo’s water crisis was discussed extensively at both meetings, with residents reaching a consensus that the onus was on the government and BCC to increase water supply to the city through completion of the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project, building of new dams and through various medium term strategies such as duplication of the Insiza pipeline and fully harnessing water from Mtshabezi Dam.

               

Regards

Information Department

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association

Bus. Tel: +263 9 61196

Cell: +263 772 516 729

Website: www.bulawayoresidents.org

BPRA Statement on International Mother Language Day

Date:               21 February 2013

Contact:         Emmanuel Ndlovu

                        Programmes and Advocacy Manager

                        Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)

Need for Government to Protect Indigenous Languages

As the world commemorates International Mother Language Day, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) challenges the government, and its relevant ministries and departments to put measures in place to ensure that all indigenous languages are preserved and respected. It is the association’s contention that under no circumstances should the hegemony of one or a few languages be allowed to dominate others, leading to a situation whereby other languages are threatened with extinction. It is BPRA’s contention that not enough has been done, since independence, to ensure the preservation of all languages in Zimbabwe. Indeed some minority languages, notably the language of the San people in the Matabeleland North Region, are nearing extinction.

BPRA thus calls upon the government to put measures in place to ensure the protection and preservation of minority and endangered languages in Zimbabwe. The association proposes that primary schools should be staffed by teachers who are conversant with the local languages so that children are tutored in their mother languages during their early learning years. In addition, all local languages should be taught in schools in their areas (for example Venda taught in Beitbridge, Ndau in Chipinge, and Kalanga in Plumtree). This would not only help preserve minority languages but also improve education for minority ethnic groups. As a corollary to this, education colleges should provide tutorage in local languages to widen the base for preservation of all indigenous languages.

BPRA believes that the clauses in the final draft constitution recognizing sixteen official languages in the country are a step in the right direction. This is a tremendous improvement from the current three official languages. The association also acknowledges efforts begun by the Ministry of Education, a few years ago, to introduce languages such as Venda, Tonga and Kalanga as subjects in primary schools.

The International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1999 and has been commemorated annually since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity. It is noted that languages have a bearing on integration, education and development hence they are of strategic importance for the well-being of all people. Meanwhile it is expected that at least half of the 7000 languages spoken in the world could be extinct in a few generations if no policies are introduced to preserve languages.

     

Regards

...................................

Emmanuel Ndlovu

Programmes and Advocacy Manager

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)

Past Weekend Activities Report

Published on 18 February 2013

                                        

Residents follow proceedings at a consultative meeting held
at Mgiqika Primary School in Nketa on Sunday
17 Februury 2013 

ON Sunday this past weekend (17 February 2013), Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) held two consultative meetings in Emgawini (ward 26) and Nketa (ward 25). The meetings provided platforms for residents to engage with their respective councillors (Clrs Norman Hlabana and Edward Ndlovu) on pertinent issues of service delivery and local governance. The meeting in Nketa was also attended by the Senator for the area, Senator Siphiwe Ncube and representatives of Tshova Mubaiwa to discuss transport issues.

The major issues discussed at the meetings included:

-  The water situation in Bulawayo – The councillor for ward 26, Norman Hlabana,  told residents that water levels at the city’s dams now stand at 72 percent of capacity. He informed residents that due to this, the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) had reduced water shedding from 96n hours a week to 72 hours a week. In both meetings, the councillors informed residents that the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) would be connecting electricity to the pumps at the Mtshabezi Dam pipeline as the diesel generators had been unable to pump sufficient volumes of water. Meanwhile, residents expressed concerns with BCC’s water billing system, arguing that it was faulty and needed to be looked into. They said they felt that their bills were inflated as they were getting high bills despite the fact that they do not use much water due to water shedding.

-  Housing – The councillors informed residents that BCC would be transferring ownership of all local authority owned houses to residents subject to payment of unspecified amounts of money at a discount. Residents from suburbs such as Iminyela and Pelandaba have previously demanded ownership of houses they have been occupying for many decades. More recently, residents of Millennium Housing in Emganwini staged a demonstration against BCC demanding ownership of the houses they live in. Bulawayo has a long standing housing problem, with thousands of residents on a waiting list to access housing stands.

   Education – In Emganwini, residents expressed concerns that schools were too few to cater for the growing population. Calls were made for the government and BCC to build more schools to ensure that the quality of education in the area does not plummet any further. Concerns were also raised that school authorities and School Development Associations (SDAs) were colluding to increase school fees without consultation of the majority of parents, who often cannot afford the fees and end up having their children illegally denied access to classes for non-payment of fees.

-  BCC Social Welfare – Residents also called for BCC to revive its social welfare programme, which they said was imperative in light of the high levels of poverty prevailing in the city.

Regards

Information Department

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association

Bus. Tel: +263 9 61196

Cell: +263 772 516 729

Website: www.bulawayoresidents.org