SW Radio Africa news - The Independent Voice of Zimbabwe
Representatives from 30 residents’ associations from across the country are meeting in Bulawayo to discuss falling service delivery standards. The summit is the largest of its kind and comes against nationwide dissatisfaction with local authorities performance across the country, according to Emmanuel Ndlovu, an official at the Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Association.“We are discussing issues that threaten the survival of residents across the country, in view of a growing disconnect between governance service providers and residents” Ndlovu said. Ndlovu said some of these threats are the water crisis in Masvingo, Harare, Chitungwiza, Bulawayo and Gweru, as well the demolition of houses in some parts of the country. He said delegates hope to learn from each other and to explore how they can work together to tackle challenges such as the pre-paid water metering system being mulled for Bulawayo and Harare. “We are aiming at forming a vibrant residents’ movement, and working together will enable us to benefit from each other so that if an association in Harare is targeted, there will be a critical voice in other towns standing up in solidarity,” Ndlovu added. Also likely to come up for discussion during the two-day meeting is the reluctance by residents to pay water and electricity rates, following a government-induced debt cancellation in July. According to the Ndlovu, the non-payments should be understood within the context of “a protest against shoddy service delivery by some local authorities, including faulty billing systems that shortchange residents.” Also attending are representatives from different local authorities, legislators from the local governance portfolio committee and local government ministry officials.