BULAWAYO City Council on Monday provided free mobile toilets and water bowsers for use by guests during Heroes’ Day commemorations despite objections from a councillor who says the government must pay for such services.
By Nqobile Bhebhe
The offer was made after Bulawayo Metropolitan provincial administrator, Khonzani Ncube, wrote to council on July 10 requesting free use of water bowsers and VVIP/VIP mobile toilets.
Part of Ncube’s letter read: “The Bulawayo Metropolitan Province will join the rest of the country in commemorating the 35th anniversary of our country’s heroes.
“The Provincial State Occasions Committee, therefore, request for your assistance by the provision of water bowsers and VVIP/VIP mobile toilets for use during the provincial event.
“A total of 5 000 people are expected to throng the provincial shrine. We also request for the free use of your bulldozer in the preparations of the same event. We always value your usual cooperation.”
Ten days later, Ncube followed up on the matter with another letter requesting the toilet facilities.
Debating the issue during a recent council meeting, councillor Gideon Mangena expressed misgivings about the persistent requests by the Bulawayo Metropolitan office for free use of council’s facilities.
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“The office was also not helping council’s cause in mobilising resources for service delivery as well as for general viability. Instead they thwarted council’s efforts in this regard,” Mangena argued.
“A case in point being the directive to write off debts owed to council. Council should put in measures to cushion itself against losses, as free use of these facilities adversely affected its maintenance bill.”
However, Councillor Norman Hlabani warned against turning down the request saying it would not be politically correct.
“The environment is not conducive not to accede to the requests, particularly in view of the national character of some of the requests from the Metropolitan Province,” he was quoted saying.
“Council has to be seen to be supportive of such events and not antagonistic.”
