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The local authority and parastatals must erase all debts owed by residents
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)
June 07, 2010

Residents of Nkulumane ward 23 suburb in Bulawayo have stated that Bulawayo City Council and the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) must erase all debts owed to the parastatal and local authority by residents as a matter of urgency. Residents indicated that in 2008 when the government decided to introduce the multicurrency system, they forfeited huge sums of money to the banks as the local currency had depleted value against other currencies of the world, rendering it worthless in the international market.

The inclusive government has done nothing to ensure that citizens who lost their moneys to the banks are compensated. Residents have also stated that tariffs were affordable to pay during the Zimbabwean Dollar era as the currency was obtainable compared to elusive foreign currencies. Right now residents said they owe parastatals and the local authority thousands of United States dollars. This came out at a residents' consultative meeting with the Mayor of Bulawayo in Nkulumane over the weekend where 150 residents attended the event. In attendance was the Deputy Minister of Youths, Indigenization and Empowerment, Mr Thamsanqa Mahlangu.

Seizure of houses in Mabuthweni must be investigated!

Mabuthweni residents have engaged the lawyers and courts over the nonprocedural 'overnight' house seizure by some individuals in their neighbourhood. The houses belong to the city council and residents are fighting for ownership of the premises since they have occupied them for years and paid rentals and other bills that accrued. Residents have lodged complaints that the operations of the local authority are hazy as some residents find themselves homeless the next day, especially after the passing away of those whose names appear on the Title Deeds. Speaking during a plenary session at a consultative meeting with the councillor to discuss the housing scam, Mabuthweni residents have said most of these houses are occupied by child headed families and women and these are vulnerable groups that need both state protection and legal prerogative to prevent them from being thwarted by corrupt individuals.

Bulawayo Organisations join ties to commemorate World Environment Day

On Saturday the 5th of June 2010 Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association will team up with organisations operational in the city to join the rest of the world in commemorating the World Environment Day. The collaborated efforts are targeted at relaying an environmental message and an awakening aimed at encouraging residents to desist from activities that have a damning environmental impact. A major clean-up has been organised and residents from the 29 wards of Bulawayo will participate in this clean-up. The efforts shall be directed at cleaning Bulawayo's main port of entry and exit, the Basch Street popularly known as Egodini. Organisations that partnered with the association are; Bantu Rovers Football Club, Bulawayo City Council, Bulawayo Rainbow Hotels, Bulawayo Youth Council, Bulawayo Upcoming Traders Association, Environmental Management Agency, Girl Guides Association (Zimbabwe), Matabeleland AIDS Council, Professional Drivers Association, Radio Dialogue, Stop Suffering Health Centre, Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Association and Zimbabwe Democracy for Development Trust. The theme marking the commemoration is, "Many people, One Bulawayo, One Future. Keep Bulawayo Clean!"

Parents slam NUST administration

Parents in Bulawayo have castigated the administration at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) for its unethical conduct of preventing students from writing exams. The institution has been under fire from both parents and students after it showed that its objectives are not in tandem with the MDGs, which seek to make education accessible and affordable. The institution has shown that it is only intent on commercialising education on a first-come first-serve basis after barring students from entering examination rooms without paying school fees. The administration had to go to the extent of hiring the services of the police to seal off examination rooms.

Parents have described the action as outrageous and callous indicating that instead the university should have resorted to withholding results. The denial of students to write examinations means that the same students will have to wait till next year to write examinations.

ZIMSEC

Residents have criticised the recent announcement by the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) that candidates who failed to meet the 18 May registration deadline can continue to register until June 11 but can only do so in private colleges. They have said that it is inconsiderate of the examination body because it means pupils in the rural areas have to come all the way to the cities where they can have access to those private colleges. Apart from the rural communities, even the residents in Bulawayo are being grossly affected because in addition to the already exorbitant exam fees the colleges are demanding administration fees of up to US$20. Those who failed to register in May did so because they could not raise enough funds before the deadline and now, not only is the extension too short but the registration comes with extra costs for the already cash strapped parents. The residents have therefore called on ZIMSEC to reconsider its decision and extend it to the public schools as well.

What is government doing to prevent further blackout?

Bulawayo residents have questioned government's position with regards the continued electricity cut down by the electricity supply parastatal in high density suburbs. The parastatal has launched blitz on residents who are since failing to pay up debts owed to it. Residents in Nkulumane, Sizinda, Mzilikazi and Pumula have complained that the parastatal is not taking into consideration their plight and is cutting down electricity during the oddest winter period. Residents have since implored the government to issue a decree preventing the parastatal from further exterminating supply of electricity to household. ZESA employees have taken advantage of the apathy and went on to siphon money from unsuspecting residents on the pretext that they are doing the parastatal's errand.

Regards
Emmanuel Ndlovu
Advocacy and Information Officer
Bulawayo Progressive Residents
Association
Bus. Tel: +263 -9- 61196
Cell: +263 915 233 581
Website:http://www.bprazim.org

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