BULAWAYO City Council has received rare praise from one of the city’s residents’ associations, which says service delivery has improved since the 2013 elections.
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
In a new report, the Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Association (Bpra) said the performance of the MDC councillors had been fair.
“As the Bpra we have noted both positive and negative things regarding the performance of councillors since their term of office began,” Bpra information manager Zibusiso Dube wrote in a report measuring the councilors’ performance.
Dube cited improvements on water provision, refuse removals and council’s partnerships with the private sector to improve services.
“On the positive, we have noted efforts by the city fathers towards improvement of service delivery in the city,” he wrote.
“We find it commendable that efforts have been taken to increase the fleet of refuse compactors, and to partner with the donor community, especially in the area of water provision. The Bowser project that the Bulawayo City Council has undertaken in conjunction with donors has served as an indicator of the commitment in ensuring access to clean water for the residents of Bulawayo.
“In fact, a baseline survey that Bpra commissioned in 2014 showed that residents are generally satisfied with water provision and water quality in Bulawayo,” he added.
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Dube indicated that the Bowser project could serve as a blueprint that other local authorities in the country could emulate.
The Bulawayo Water and Sanitation Emergency Response (Bowser) is an 18-month project set up by council and donors to mitigate against a collapsing water and sewer system.
However, Bpra urged councillors to improve consultations with residents on issues affecting them. The residents’ association said some councillors never consulted their wards.
“For instance, some councillors have not been consulting residents monthly, raising questions about how they represent people when they do not know their views,” Dube added.
“Still on consultation, we are dismayed that councillors failed to consult residents on the issue of prepaid water meters before adopting the motion to introduce the devices in December 2013.”
Bulawayo is considered to be one of most well run cities in the country.
