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
Post published in: News