BULAWAYO - The Zimbabwe Social Forum (ZSF) roared into life with a street demonstration that brought together civic organisations from around the country. (Pictured: Marching for their rights at the Zimbabwe Social Forum)
Crisis Coalition of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD), Zimbabwe Youth Network (ZIYON), Bulawayo Agenda, Youth Initiative for Democracy in Zimbabwe (YIDEZ), Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) and the Zimbabwe Cross Border Traders Association were some of the groups that participated.
This sixth annual Zimbabwe Social Forum was hosted by ZIMCODD) and the ZCTU Western Region. Every year civic groups meet at a chosen venue, to discuss issues affecting their livelihoods. Percy Mcijo, one of the organisers, said: We are making history by coming together as social movements. If there is a government of national unity in this country without the workers, then that GNU is a blind turn in the revolution, said the forums convenor, Darlington Mudzonga. Social amenities such as electricity, water and sanitation should be available to everyone, he added.
Speakers took turns to raise their concerns about bad governance. The director of the Crisis Coalition, Macdonald Lewanika, implored Zimbabweans to stand up against the regime because the people united will never be defeated.
Not to be outdone, Bulawayo Agenda Director Anastasia Moyo criticisd the people-driven constitution spearheaded by the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee (COPAC). This is not a peoples constitution, she said, because it has been done by politicians. The outreach process saw sections of our society forcing war veterans views to dominate. Everyone fought during the liberation struggle. Everyone is thus a war veteran. So no special treatment should be accorded to anyone.
The forum was dominated by issues relating to the high cost of utility bills. Participants accused the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) of charging predatory and extortionate utility bills. They demanded that the parastatal should review its billing system. Speakers demanded ZESA to compensate residents whose gadgets and property were damaged as a result of electrical surges during abrupt power cuts.
The Competition and Tariffs Commission (CTC) directed the power company to reduce its charges by 43 per cent back in July, but the company has not complied. How many of us can afford the stratospheric US$1,400 to $12,000 bills per month? asked Reason Ngwenya of the ZCTU. For example, Bulawayo resident Ambrose Sibindi has a domestic electricity bill of US$9,000, strangely accumulated over a month, which he must pay. How does one get such a mountainous bill? ZESA is cheating the people. Instead of implementing the directive of the Competition and Tariffs Commission (CTC); ZESA is now cutting off electricity supplies to consumers.
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