Tinaani Nyabereka
GWERU -City Council officials were on Tuesday grilled by residents over their failure to address key service delivery issues and lack of transparency in tender processes.
This came out during a tour by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing led by legislator Miriam Chikukwa.
The visit followed an allegations raised in a petition letter written to the parent ministry by Gweru Residents Forum (GRF) on lack of accountability in the use of devolution funds.
Gweru Residents Forum Board Secretary, Dr Vincent Chakunda told the committee that council should consult residents on how devolution funds should be used on priority areas towards service delivery.
“As residents, we are a strategic partner to council and we need to know how much council gets for devolution, and how the money is to be used so that we are part of the process. Lack of a devolution framework has affected council to enable and to follow clearly laid down procedures in the allocation of the funds on projects,” he added.
National Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (NANGO) Gweru coordinator Titus Mangoma said residents’ involvement in issues of devolution was minimal.
“It is not even clear to residents if the funds come already defined from the central government or they are residents who should define the use of funds through budget consultations,” he said.
Speaking on the aspect of involvement, Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) coordinator Gracia Mashingaidze however added that women required local authorities to prioritize engagement on devolution funds.
“We appeal to council to at least prioritize engagement because if devolution funds come, we do not even know what will be their stipulated use for the time given.
“It is equally important for us to then say, the money which is distributed under devolution cluster should therefore be used with accordance to people’s agreements. We want accountability and transparency on the use of this money,” Mashingaidze added.
Resident John Shumba said it was pathetic to note how the public toilet at Kudzanai terminus were being commercialized.
“As for me I am worried about the state of service delivery in the city as council is not doing enough to offer services to residents. I am worried about this toilet at Kudzanai bus terminus because people are paying exorbitant prices to get into the toilet.
“How can the security charge ZW$100 for one to access the toilet? Some people can not afford that because it is a lot you know. I had to help these other two gentlemen last time after discovering that they were already messing themselves. I sacrificed for them to use the facilities. Talking of these resident associations, we do not even know them. It is my first time to hear about these resident associations here. We do not know where you are located or how you are operating. Whether you are here for the residents or your own interests, I am lost on that one,” he said.
Gweru ward 11 councillor Albert Chirau said budgeting capital expenditure was a national problem.
“Capital expenditure is a national problem. If we are given ZW$302 million, then we go to the procurement body Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), we can go as far as six months with no paperwork returned.
“I therefore recommend that, there is a special disposition for forex which is given to dealers, as local authorities we need it as well.
“We also need priority on Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) as well so that Zesa tariff is revised for local authorities to be able to offer services such as water,” Chirau said.
