Byo residents protest over poor service delivery

Zimm Now Writer

Bulawayo residents today demonstrated against Bulawayo City Council, protesting the falling standards.

The residents gathered at the Large City Hall carrying placards which bemoaned the falling standards of service delivery in Zimbabwe second largest City.

Some of the issues the residents raised include the poor state of roads in the City of Kings, high bills and the failure by council to consult residents during budget making processes, among other complaints.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association, deputy chairperson Patricia Tshabalala pleaded with council to consider their plight as most of the residents could hardly afford the exorbitant bills they were receiving from the local authority.

“We bought stands back in 2016 and they still haven’t been given to us, the council is demanding US$6 000 for us to top up. Some of the people who bought stands have even passed away before receiving stands from Council.

“Council must consult us before drawing up budgets and straining the public with ridiculous bills yet the water is always not there. We drink from buckets and we are wondering how the bills are always hiking,” said Tshabalala

The residents also raised concern over council’s debt recovery method, noting that it will eventually see the majority of them losing their properties.

They cited residents of Makokoba, especially the old-aged ones who cannot even look after themselves, wondering how they were going to pay these high bills.