Sakubva residents grill Cllrs over service delivery
‘…council hostels must be sold to tenants’
TellZim
Reporter
Reporter
MUTARE
– TellZim
was in Mutare on Friday, December 13, 2019 for a public dialogue between
residents of wards 4 and 5 who are mostly people in Sakubva high density suburb
where service delivery shortcomings are arguably most severe.
– TellZim
was in Mutare on Friday, December 13, 2019 for a public dialogue between
residents of wards 4 and 5 who are mostly people in Sakubva high density suburb
where service delivery shortcomings are arguably most severe.
Many residents turned
up at Beit Hall to seek audience with Cllr Kalulu of Ward 4 and Cllr Mapuvire
of Ward 5.
up at Beit Hall to seek audience with Cllr Kalulu of Ward 4 and Cllr Mapuvire
of Ward 5.
Issues that came up
included the delays in the completion of the Sakubva Stadium refurbishments
which many participants felt was inconveniencing their right to affordable
recreation.
included the delays in the completion of the Sakubva Stadium refurbishments
which many participants felt was inconveniencing their right to affordable
recreation.
Other participants
wanted to know when Mutare City Council intended to sell old council-owned
houses that have been leased to tenants for decades. Most of the houses are
poorly-maintained and are quickly falling apart.
wanted to know when Mutare City Council intended to sell old council-owned
houses that have been leased to tenants for decades. Most of the houses are
poorly-maintained and are quickly falling apart.
There were also
participants who felt council was not doing enough to ensure a more stable
water supply situation in Sakubva and other high density residential areas.
participants who felt council was not doing enough to ensure a more stable
water supply situation in Sakubva and other high density residential areas.
Some women complained
that council was not taking stern action against reckless disposal of diapers
and other forms of pollutants that are making the streets and open spaces a big
stink.
that council was not taking stern action against reckless disposal of diapers
and other forms of pollutants that are making the streets and open spaces a big
stink.
In response, Kalulu
said he acknowledged frustrations at what appeared to be the slow pace of
refurbishments being carried out at Sakubva Stadium but assured residents that
work will be completed in 2020 without fail.
said he acknowledged frustrations at what appeared to be the slow pace of
refurbishments being carried out at Sakubva Stadium but assured residents that
work will be completed in 2020 without fail.
“Council has put in
place all the materials needed to carry out the work successfully and we can
all see that something is happening there. The bricks are there and work is
progressing well though at a pace we might not be satisfied with. I plead with
you to be a little bit more patient as council is making progress. Recreation
is a right and we understand people’s frustrations,” said Kalulu.
place all the materials needed to carry out the work successfully and we can
all see that something is happening there. The bricks are there and work is
progressing well though at a pace we might not be satisfied with. I plead with
you to be a little bit more patient as council is making progress. Recreation
is a right and we understand people’s frustrations,” said Kalulu.
On when council
intended to sell the old houses it has been leasing to tenants for many years,
Kalulu said a resolution was being made to fast-track the process.
intended to sell the old houses it has been leasing to tenants for many years,
Kalulu said a resolution was being made to fast-track the process.
“Those houses are in
bad shape and there is an agreement in council that selling them to the
faithful tenants who have been consistently paying their rentals will improve
the situation. If a person buys the house, he will be more responsible with it,
and he won’t hesitate investing his own resources towards its upgrade and
maintenance. Some of those houses are now being sub-leased by people who have
long relocated to their home areas like Murewa. Those people are being paid
rentals every month and that is not right as it is exploitative,” said Kalulu.
bad shape and there is an agreement in council that selling them to the
faithful tenants who have been consistently paying their rentals will improve
the situation. If a person buys the house, he will be more responsible with it,
and he won’t hesitate investing his own resources towards its upgrade and
maintenance. Some of those houses are now being sub-leased by people who have
long relocated to their home areas like Murewa. Those people are being paid
rentals every month and that is not right as it is exploitative,” said Kalulu.
In his own words,
Mapuvire said council acknowledged all the service delivery shortfalls being
experienced in the city and was working to improve the situation with the
limited available resources.
Mapuvire said council acknowledged all the service delivery shortfalls being
experienced in the city and was working to improve the situation with the
limited available resources.
“The water situation
has to improve and refuse collection has to improve too. We face a severe
economic crisis as a country and that has a bearing on the performance of the
city council. The problems mean that we need a united front as council and
residents. We urge you to pay your bills in full and in time and, in turn, hold
us to account,” said Mapuvire.
has to improve and refuse collection has to improve too. We face a severe
economic crisis as a country and that has a bearing on the performance of the
city council. The problems mean that we need a united front as council and
residents. We urge you to pay your bills in full and in time and, in turn, hold
us to account,” said Mapuvire.
He also said each
resident must be an environmental police officer to make sure those who dump
disposable nappies and other nasty material everywhere are exposed, shamed and
fined.
resident must be an environmental police officer to make sure those who dump
disposable nappies and other nasty material everywhere are exposed, shamed and
fined.
