The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) has raised alarm over what it describes as a deepening governance and service delivery crisis at the City of Bulawayo, calling for urgent corrective action to restore accountability, stability and effective leadership.
BPRA Chairman Stephen Nkomo said the city, once admired for strong leadership and efficient service delivery, is now experiencing a worrying decline that demands immediate intervention. “We reaffirm our commitment to protecting the integrity, functionality and service delivery standards of the City of Bulawayo. However, the current state of affairs is deeply concerning and requires urgent corrective action,” said Nkomo.
He stressed that councillors must uphold their constitutional duty to represent residents faithfully and place public interest above political considerations. Nkomo noted that persistent administrative, legal and labour disputes have continued to divert attention from the city’s core mandate of delivering services to residents. He also criticised inconsistent communication from senior city officials, including the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and top administrators, stating that conflicting public statements have weakened public confidence and caused unnecessary confusion.
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“Service delivery must be restored as a core priority. The ongoing disputes within council are crippling the city’s capacity to meet its essential obligations to residents,” Nkomo said.
The BPRA also expressed concern over allegations of asset mismanagement and theft within the local authority, which it says point to deeper systemic governance failures. Nkomo called for strengthened oversight mechanisms and the urgent evaluation of senior leadership contracts, including that of the Town Clerk, based strictly on clear performance indicators rather than political influence or legal manoeuvres.
Nkomo further warned that councillors appear increasingly consumed by the Town Clerk’s contract issue at the expense of addressing Bulawayo’s escalating service delivery challenges. He said this matter should be treated as a straightforward labour and legal issue rather than a political battleground.
“We urge councillors to focus on decisions that prioritise residents’ needs and the long-term stability of the city. All actions must be guided by professionalism, objectivity and integrity,” he said.
The BPRA has called on council leadership to demonstrate transparency, decisiveness and independence from external political interference in order to rebuild public trust and steer the city back onto a path of sustainable governance and reliable service delivery.
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