Residents’ Voices – Issue 37

The city council has been cutting off defecting consumers as a way of coercing them to pay their utility bills. Residents from the high density suburbs have bemoaned the municipalitys failure to exempt consumers who have paid part of their bills. It is not the first time such an anormally occurs as residents have been deprived of their right to water on a number of incidents. Consumers in the area were left wondering what criteria was used by the city fathers to disconnect residents including those that were paying their rates who suffered the same fate as defectors.

Residents dismayed by harassment of journalist

Bulawayo residents have expressed dismay at the way the police have harassed standard reporter Nqobani Ndlovu in the past week. Residents fear that the action was a well calculated move meant to create a culture of fear among journalists with the aim of stifling criticism of the police force and other state departments. They said the move was a clear sign of wanton disregard of principles of freedom of expression and the media that are of paramount importance to the maintenance of democracy. As an advocate for democratic and participatory local governance, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) believes free flow of information is an important check and balance mechanism to ensure that public officials are held accountable for their actions. The association thus believes that the continued detention of Nqobani Ndlovu is likely to have devastating consequences to free flow of information. Meanwhile, residents will be joining the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists in a demonstration to be staged on 29 November 2010 in solidarity with the victimised journalist.

BPRA ward committee engages council on behalf of residents

The BPRA committee for Nketa (ward 25) redeemed some residents when it facilitated negotiations between the city council and aggrieved residents. Residents were dismayed last week when the city council disconnected water for those that were owing. The city council then notified residents that for reconnections to be done each household would have to pay $30 reconnection fee and half the fee they owed the service provider. Most residents revealed that they owed the city council more than $100. When approaching the associations committee members it was resolved that each resident pay at least $15 and negotiate for water reconnection while they looked for the outstanding amount. On Monday 22 November 2010 the ward committee approached the city fathers at the Tower block who, to their delight, granted their appeal. 31 households have since been reconnected.

BPRA urges council to investigate housing department

Bulawayo residents have commended councillors that have publicly rebuked council employees that have been accused of negligence of duty and corruptly acquiring residential and commercial stands. Residents queried how such blatant disregard for council procedure could go on for so long without any of the directors not icing or rectifying it. BPRA demands that the city council investigate the cases of rampant corruption in the issuing of stands. This comes hard on the backdrop of revelations that the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development has also corruptly acquired numerous properties during his term as minister.

BPRA will be hosting a Social Accountability Conference under the theme Promoting Local Democracy at the large city hall in Bulawayo on 5 December 2010. The conference is aimed at promoting a culture of engagement between residents and policy makers as a way of promoting transparency and accountability. Further details will be communicated.

Cell: +263 773 788 183