Corruption at ZESA becomes endemic: BPRA

Corruption at ZESA

Corruption at ZESA has become endemic to the extent that the parastatal should be targeted for institutional reform, residents have said. Making contributions at a meeting organized by the association at Waterford (ward 4), residents indicated that ZESA officials were soliciting for bribes to attend to faults. They indicated that some areas, like Locke View, have gone without electricity for more than two months because residents refused to bribe ZESA officials or contribute money to buy fuel for these officials.

Residents agreed that parastatals were not adding value to their lives and there was need for a monitoring mechanism that will provide checks and balances for officials in parastatals. This move would curb corruption and make sure that parastatal leaders who are paid fortunes deliver services and are accountable to the residents, the consumers.

Residents reject special interest councilors again

Residents in Nketa 9 (ward 25) have told the Mayor of the City of Bulawayo, Cllr Thaba Moyo that they will not recognize any special interest councilors imposed to the city of Bulawayo. At a meeting to provide a platform for engagement between the residents and the Mayor organized by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association, residents indicated to the Mayor that if the same partisan councilors announced in 2008 by Minister Chombo are forced into the council chambers, residents will resort to legal action against the minister.

They have highlighted that special interest councilors should either posses special skills needed by the local authority or should represent special interest groups like people living with disabilities, youths and women. Minister Chombo announced a team of special interest councilors made up of losing Zanu PF councilors.

Minister Chombo’s insincerity irks residents

Residents have dismissed the suspension of Bindura Mayor and councilors over allegations of corruption as a damp squib. The move by the residents comes after Minister Chombo failed to take action against the Chitungwiza council apparently because he is benefitting or has benefitted from their corruption.  Residents urge Minister Chombo to act above board by dealing objectively with all local authorities and in consultation with the residents. The move by the Minister is in bad taste to the residents especially after the exposure of his many properties he accrued clandestinely throughout the country.

City Council should clean up mess at Hlalani Kuhle

Residents in Bulawayo have asked the local authority to intervene in solving the looming disaster at Cowdray Park – Hlalani Kuhle Project. The move by residents comes after the government has failed to provide resources for sewer and water reticulation at Cowdray Park. The Hlalani Kuhle Project that was meant for the victims of the chaotic and ill advised operation Murambatsvina only benefitted a few poor people and the beneficiaries have since been asked to pay for their sewer and water reticulation. Residents have indicated that only the local authority with its history of service delivery can be in a position to provide sewer and water to the residents as a way of ameliorating their plights.

To commemorate this year’s World Environment Day, BPRA will host a clean-up campaign in collaboration with other organisations operating in the city. The campaign will run under the theme Many People, One Future, One Bulawayo. Keep Bulawayo Clean! The clean-up will be held on Saturday 5 June 2010 at the Basch Street terminus (Egodini).  

Emmanuel Ndlovu, Advocacy and Information Officer, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association

[newsletter]