Senior citizens constantly raise serious questions on why their bills have not changed, despite them paying the required US$3 for the form, produced the necessary documents that include a copy of a national ID or a passport, and proof of residence. These were submitted to the City Treasury department but they have not received any response from the relevant authority. The City Treasury has been constantly shifting the blame to the Department of Housing and Community Services as the one responsible for the final selection and approval of candidates to be placed on the list of old age payment system.
The Harare Resident Trust (HRT) receives about 100 residents’ cases monthly and out of these, usually 40 will be from elderly people aged (55) and above requesting referral letters to Council and ZESA for payment plans because they are failing to fully settle their outstanding council and bills, increasing their desperation. There is an urgent call for service providers to recognise the significant efforts of the elderly who spent long working hours labouring in mines, farms, private companies and Government Ministries. In the Zimbabwean context many elderly citizens are living in abject poverty, the situation is exacerbated by their old age, meaning they cannot work anymore.
ZESA Holdings in September 2011 announced a 41% tariff increase without considering the elderly people. In February 2012 the City Treasury instructed the messenger of court to attach property of defaulters and the most affected residents were senior citizens, since most of them get less than US$100.00 from the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) in pension payments every month. This money is expected to settle their water, electricity and other utility bills. In March 2012, ZESA launched a massive crackdown on defaulters in Kuwadzana, Highfield, Dzivarasekwa, Tafara, Glen Norah Glen View and Mabvuku disconnecting residents who owe ZESA money ranging from US$200.00 and above in a bid to recover money owed by residents.
The HRT is a residents’ movement with a mission to building ‘capacity for productive engagement among citizens, their elected representative and service providers as means to improve living standards in communities’ and has been working tirelessly to bring out the resolution of the old age payment system every time there is an engagement meeting with public service providers. This is meant to ensure that resolutions are being implemented by the city employees.
During the 2012 pre-budget consultation meeting, residents demanded that the City of Harare reduce the senior citizen age from 65 years down to 50 years given the reduced life expectancy in the country. To reduce the burden on residents, ZESA needs to prioritise the installation of prepaid meters and to seriously consider the old-age payment system adopted by the Harare City Council.
I would like to commend the effort made by Government Hospitals such as Harare Hospital and Parenyatwa for offering free medical assistance to elderly people. –
Marshall Masiyazi HRT Programs Intern – BSC Hons in Local Governance – Midlands State University
Post published in: News