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BCC and ZESA in axis of evil
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)
October 19, 2010

The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) follows ZESA's vile steps in sending unnecessary ultimatums to residents over unpaid rates. The city council has given residents with arreas 48 hours to negotiate terms of payments with the service provider failure to which water supplies will be disconnected. This move, by the local authority, comes after a similar move was taken by ZESA earlier this month. The ultimatum sent to residents comes amidst poor service provision by the local authority. The city council is quick to seek payment from residents yet it is not keen on looking after them. In western suburbs like Nkulumane refuse collection inconsistent thus promoting illegal dumping. Most residents feel let down by the service provider. The city council which purports to have the people's interests at heart has failed to deliver to the people it serves. This is evident in residential areas like Tshabalala, where residents are complaining of sewerage bursts that have not been attended to in the past three years. In its defence, the council argues that people are not paying rates thus it does not have the adequate resources to attend to all complaints. However, the same council officials are quick to use the little that is paid into their accounts for the remuneration of council employees. Allegations of high remunerations of council employees, leaves a lot of questions unanswered as to where the money paid in by rate payers goes towards service provision or employee's salaries. The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association has written a formal letter on behalf of residents, discouraging the local authority from taking such drastic measures.

BPRA will be staging a demonstration against ZESA in a bid to call for improved service provision and compliance with the Competition and Tariffs Commission's directive. The demonstration will be at the city centre on 27 October 2010. Other civic organisations and members of the public are welcome to take part. Further details will be communicated soon.

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