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BPRA weekend activity report: 23-24 March 2013
Bulawayo Progressive
Residents Association (BPRA)
March 25, 2013
This past weekend
(23 &24 March 2013), Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association
(BPRA) held five consultative meetings in Mpopoma (ward 9), Pelandaba
West (Ward 27), Lobengula (Ward 14), Old Magwegwe (ward 18) and
Pelandaba (ward 13). The meetings were meant to provide platforms
for residents to engage in dialogue with representatives from Basic
Education Assistance Module (BEAM) committees, School Development
Committees (SDCs) and Community Planning Committees. The meeting
held in Pelandaba West however provided a platform for the residents
living in the area to engage in dialogue with the constructors of
the houses, Hawkflight Construction on pertinent issues affecting
the residents in the area. Residents were also allowed to raise
any other issues affecting them at the meetings. Among the issues
discussed at the five meetings, the following were prominent:
- Residents in Pelandaba
West accused Hawkflight Construction of corruption after the company
penned them letters saying they should pay it money for water
despite the fact that the residents pay their monthly water bills
to the Bulawayo City Council (BCC). The residents vowed not to
pay the monies, which are curiously pegged at $295 for all the
residents.
- Residents complained
that the houses built by Hawkflight were substandard as the roofs
and the walls absorb water when it rains. They said the company
should put measures in place to address this issue at no charge
to the people who bought the houses.
- Residents complained
at the meetings that they do not have adequate knowledge on the
operations of BEAM committees. They said due to this lack of transparency,
there were loopholes in the operations of the scheme hence it
was possible for BEAM committees to engage in corruption and enlist
children who do not deserve educational assistance. Residents
urged BEAM committees to become more accessible to members of
the community so that they know procedures for applying and are
also kept abreast of what is going on with regards to the scheme.
- The BEAM committees
revealed that there are no permanent BEAM beneficiaries thus custodians
of vulnerable children who require assistance with their education
have to apply every year.
- Residents recommended
that the BEAM committees should work closely with Child Protection
Committees to ensure that deserving children get BEAM assistance.
They also said there was a need for more transparency and accountability
in the operations of BEAM to ensure that there is no corruption
in the selection of beneficiaries.
Visit the Bulawayo
Progressive Residents Association fact
sheet
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