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Notes from BPRA service delivery conference
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)
September 16, 2011

War veterans threaten to close company

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association held its service delivery conference on Sunday 11 September 2011 at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair. The Conference, attended by more than 2000 residents' leaders from the structures of the association, was meant to provide a platform for interaction between residents and service providers. This is in fulfilment of the mandate of the association which is to ensure full participation of residents in issues of service delivery as a way of ensuring transparency and accountability. Residents got the opportunity to interact with service providers from TelOne, ZESA, and Bulawayo City Council. Also in attendance were civic society leaders from Crisis Coalition, Bulawayo Agenda, ZESN, ZCTU, National Youth Development Trust, Professional Drivers Association, ZICEA, representatives from political parties, councillors, Members of Parliament and residents associations namely Combined Harare Residents Association, Gwanda Municipality Ratepayers Association, Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association, Plumtree Residents Association and Bulawayo United Residents Association. The following is a summation of issues raised by residents against service providers and the commitments made by the different service providers.

Service provider Issues Raised by Residents Commitments made by Service provider Action to be taken by BPRA
TelOne   Disconnection of lines If residents approach the offices and make payment plans, they will be reconnected. Make follow up consultative meetings to map/monitor commitments and resolutions made by TelOne.
Unavailability of TelOne facilities in some wards Efforts are being made to ensure that the whole of Bulawayo has access to TelOne lines. Gather grievances and complaints raised by residents and engage TelOne
Unclear billing system

Residents with billing problems should approach TelOne staff for clarification on their bills.

Charging no interest on overdue accounts, telephone extensions and reconnection fees ( to be reviewed when the economy stabilizes),

 Mobilise residents to monitor TelOne.
B.C.C.     Failure to follow the monthly schedule of refuse collection. A proper refuse collection schedule to be produced and distributed to residents through the structures of the association. BPRA shall distribute refuse collection schedules and monitor the local authority.
Disconnection of water for residents Residents need to make payment plans with council staff prior to reconnection. BPRA shall organize ward consultative meetings to encourage residents to make payment plans.
Ownership of houses for Mabuthweni and Pelandaba residents Council will debate it upon receipt of official correspondence from the residents and local councilor. A special meeting to discuss the ownership of houses in ward 13 shall be organized to come up with a clear action plan.
Engagement of debt collectors to deal with debts from residents Improving the frequency of refuse collection to at least twice a month compared to once a month which BCC is currently capacitated to do. BPRA to produce a document on the council's budget priorities.
Council should budget for more dams and resuscitation of recreational facilities Residents should push for the resuscitation of recreational facilities in the budget. Keeping track of new vending stalls to be availed by council.
Council should stop harassment and ensure viability of informal trading. Cushioning the plight of those who lose their jobs to closing companies by providing them with vending stalls Monitoring compliance by council staff
Why is maternity fees still charged at $50 instead of the $30 mentioned by the mayor? Immediately attending to the problem of maternity fees.  
ZESA      Return the thermal power station to the local authority The return of the Bulawayo Thermal Power Station to the Bulawayo City Council is a policy issue which residents need to push at policy not implementation level. Residents shall mobilize MPs to push for the retaining of the Bulawayo Thermal Power station.
Corruption by ZESA officials Task-force teams should be set up to ensure that ZESA and residents thwarts corrupt ZESA officials BPRA shall arrange meetings to alert residents on the hazards of bribing ZESA officials.
The winter load shedding schedule was availed. Why is the summer one not being availed considering that electricity consumption is low during this time of the year. Load shedding schedules will be produced and when they are changes they shall be communicated. BPRA, through its ward committees shall monitor the timetable
Disconnection of electricity

Residents need to come to ZESA offices to make arrangement for payments.

Making special provisions for the elderly who come forward to make payment arrangements depending on how much they can afford to pay.

 BPRA shall organize meetings to encourage residents to pay bills no matter how little it can be.
Unavailability of electricity in places such as Emganwini and Cowdray Park.

Work shall begin in the next 6 months to ensure that there is electricity throughout Bulawayo.

Setting up a gas power station in Lupane which is part of an extension drive to provide adequate energy in the country.

Installing 2 additional machines in each of the country's 5 power-generating stations (Bulawayo, Hwange, Kariba, Munyati and Harare).

  
Flawed billing system ZESA is working on making sure that everybody uses a prepaid meter Constant engagement with ZESA shall be maintained to ensure fair billing and availability of electricity.

Visit the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association fact sheet

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