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Residents' Voices - Issue 29
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)
September 03, 2010

ZESA's defiance taxes residents

Residents are baffled by the way ZESA has turned a deaf ear to the Competition and Tariffs Commission's call for a reduction of tariffs. From the time the directive was publicised by mainstream media, residents have not been given feedback by the responsible authorities as to how far ZESA has gone in reducing the tariffs. Clearly ZESA is not willing to retract and neither is it willing to publish a statement giving an update to residents about whether or not it will reconsider its billing system. Residents have said that not only is the service provider failing to deliver diligently but it is also failing to communicate efficiently with residents. From the beginning of the year, BPRA has been engaging service providers and giving them a platform where they can interact with residents. The meetings gave the residents the opportunity to present their issues and expectations and service providers were also awarded an opportunity to hear residents' concerns. Residents feel that the delay by ZESA in implementing the commission's directive is milking the last meagre resources that they remain with.

Residents welcome government loans

The Ministry of Gender and Women's Affairs and the Ministry Youth, Empowerment and Indigenisation are offering loans to women and youth, respectively. Women are being offered the government loans of up to a maximum of $5000 while the youth can apply for loans ranging from $200 to $1000.Women and the youth have welcomed government loans that are an empowerment tool. It is expected that the loans will be used to start projects that will inject income for the two groups. It must be acknowledged that economic empowerment, when appropriately implemented, paves way for many other developments. Residents have stated that there is need however to make sure that the loans are not dispensed on a partisan basis. Zimbabwe has a history where women and youths' allegiance has been bought. Bulawayo residents encourage schemes that propel development in various sectors. Residents have been persuaded to make use of these schemes seeing as how some countries, like India, owe most of their economic development to initiatives such as these. Although residents think financial empowerment of women and youth is a noble idea, some have suggested that there should be a similar scheme which will cater for men as well.

Back to school

It is the last weekend before the final school term resumes and most parents have their fingers crossed hoping that this term will be better than previous ones. For the past two years most parents and guardians have complained of wasted academic years. They say that their children do go to school and parents do pay the necessary fees but academic results do not reflect the efforts put in by parents and students. Residents are still urging the government to address the issue of teachers' salaries as it could be the best way of bringing back the high standards of education. The third term is the most important time for most pupils because it is the time when they write their final public examinations. Most people hope that this period will not be disturbed by teachers' strikes as has been the case before.

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