Branton Matondo
Mutare- Residents have called upon the local authority to consider acting swiftly to their service delivery issues and address challenges raised before the situation gets out of hand.
The call was made during the on-going ward based budget consultations with residents from ward 1 to 5 who met at a local Full Gospel church in Mawonde suburb (ward 4) crying out at lack of urgency on part of city fathers as the situation has not only gone out of hand, but to inhumane levels.
The event was organised by City of Mutare finance and budget committee members, Manica Youth Assembly (MAYA) supported by Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ).
Speaking during the interaction meeting, Ward 1 (Old Township Section) and 2 (Avenues, Matida Flats Magregars, Chimoyo Flats) led by Councillor Elizabeth Tsoro representative said that the continued water shortages and gross dilapidated houses and toilets are two major challenges affecting residents.
“Houses are in a serious state of dilapidation. We are living in old houses that are as we all know some of the first houses to be built in Mutare. It’s a struggle. Rainy season is fast approaching us and it’s going to be a challenge,” said the representative.
Another elderly representative from ward 2 urged council to clarify on urban renewal programme.
“We want council to clarify on urban renewal. All we see are convoys of vehicles driving on and off wards and it confuses us residents because we are in the dark. Explain to us what is actually taking place,” she said.
Further reports from residents indicate that houses and toilets have become health hazards while in some cases snakes make their way in the cracked premises.
However, ward 3 members spoke out on how unfair council has been when it comes to paying and provision of services.
“We are facing dire challenges where we find ourselves paying bills from estimated meter readings. We don’t see council members coming to read meters but we only see them when dispatching dues. How come, is it possible that I have to pay the same amount when we have different numbers of people living in same houses? Water shortages have affected us. In Old Dangare, for example there is not water. We travel to Maonde to bath and wash our clothes which is tough for us. Service delivery should equal tariffs payment,” said the lady from Old Dangare.
Responding to issues raised, Acting Financial Director one Guni said council has already put aside an amount to address the challenge.
“As council we have set aside US$ 772 000 which will see us targeting a programme called non-revenue water. It’s a project meant to start next year but as of now, we have 5000 meters from a recently claimed tender. We are still deciding where to fix them because vandalism has been sabotaging progress,” said Guni.
Ward 3 members (New Chisamba, Chinyausunzi, Old Chisamba, Chinyausunzi Flats) and ward 5 members (Zororo, Maonde, Boys club area, Mwamuka area, Devonshire) called for council to fix tower lights as crime rate continues to rise in the aforementioned suburbs.
Responding to the issues, Guni said they are already moving towards fixing the issue.
“We usually acquire ZW$ 34 000 per month for street lights. We have been constructing three tower lights in a respective ward, but what we plan on doing is using devolution funds. That means we use a certain amount of money towards street lighting revamp. Residents should bear with us by complying with their tariff payments,” he added.
MAYA coordinator Jussa Kudherezera highlighted on the importance of consultations citing that they do pave way for service delivery and accountability.
“Consultations are paramount in any development, accountability and full citizen participation to put their inputs in matters affecting them and what they feel council should do to improve service delivery. There is no need to hurry in making critical decisions that affect citizens without their full participation be it budgets, housing, recreation facilities and refuse collection.
“They are the ones to finance them, hence need to know and get involved. Council has a tendency of by-passing residents and misfiring in the process when their inputs are rejected by residents,” said Kudherezera.
Mutare which is also under an urban renewal programme has seen the city engaging infrastructural changes meant to better the city.
Council guaranteed residents that they will not be affected by the development which will see institutions like NSSA constructing structures in one of the wards.
Close to 150 residents turned up for the budget consultations.
The assemblage which was also attended by respective councillors from various wards was meant to heighten challenges that residents are facing and how best they can be curtailed.
