Peter Nyapetwa, secretary Epworth Residents Development Committee, told The Zimbabwean that dialogue with the local authority had failed and mass action was the only option.
“The Local Board continues to avoid meeting with residents. Even the police have tried to arrange an all stakeholders meeting – but in vain. The police initiative followed several notifications by residents to the law enforcement agents that they wanted to vent their anger on the streets,” Nyapetwa said.
“There is no proper accountability for the collected revenue, residents suspect that funds are channelled into pockets of top officials at the Board and there is no rate payers’ data base,” he added.
Recently, ERDC wrote to the Minister of Local Government, Ignatius Chombo, advising him that among irregularities at Epworth, its 2015 budget lacked residents’ input. Chombo indicated that he would not approve the non-consultative budget.
Victor Kamba, founder and programmes officer Combined Epworth Residents Trusts, said “There is no refuse collection and water services in Epworth. The last time the local authority consulted residents on the budget was in 2012, when a pocket of Zanu (PF) supporters gathered under the guise of a budget consultative meeting.”
Tafi Murambidzi, chairperson Epworth Local Board, denied the allegations and attributed them to detractors with a political agenda.
“We have tried to engage residents at all levels of our planning. The problem is that they push political agendas. We are doing our best to deliver, but the problem is that the majority of residents are illegal settlers who are not paying rates,” he said.
Post published in: News