LLB under fire for poor service delivery

Zibusiso Moyo

LUPANE-Lupane residents are up in arms with Lupane Local Board over alleged poor service delivery. The residents made their feelings known during a stakeholders’ budget performance meeting held at the Lupane Local Board Hall on the 21st of April 2022.

The LLB has three appointed commissioners who are councillors and one of their duties is to represent the residents and take their grievances to  relevant authorities such as  ZINWA and ZESA. However, Lupane residents have registered dismay at the alleged incompetence of the officials whom they blame for lack of access to water and electricity at the new stands.

 “We have talked about the electricity issue for a while but nothing has been done. We have commissioners who should play their role and take up our concerns with the service providers but they are in dereliction of duty. By now they should have resolved the issues,” said Bekithemba Dube, the Chairperson of Lupane Residents Association.

Residents also raised issues of poor communication and lack of  transparency in LLB’s dealings with stakeholders. Nkululeko Tshuma, a resident, said there was a need  for LLB to closely monitor contracted companies as most developments tend to take too long to complete. “The contractors do not seem invested in the processes and therefore, the awarding of tenders should be thoroughly investigated and improved on,” he said.

Tshuma added that there was no point for  residents to continue paying rates as they have been occupying unserviced stands for a long time. “People may seem like they do not want to pay rates but what are we paying for if we are living under such unbearable conditions? It’s not worth it, we do not enjoy the life we are living…we fetch water from boreholes and we also have to look for firewood,” he said.

 One vendor identified as Magabadela said, “As a woman operating at the terminus, it’s not safe to sell at night. We are forced to go home as soon as  it gets dark and this inconveniences us as we miss out on potential customers that travel at night. We are afraid of being attacked since there is no lighting at the terminus, ” she said.

Mfundo Ndlovu, a member of the residents association, bemoaned  LLB’s weak revenue collecting strategies. “What is the council doing to ensure that people pay their rates? There is a need to have a robust approach. If there is a need to go door to door, let it be done to reach every Lupane resident, ” said Ndlovu.

  LLB Chairperson Monica Ngwenya urged residents to play their part in ensuring efficient service delivery and developing Lupane. “The LLB has the mandate to give feedback to the residents on budget performance. This fosters accountability and transparency on service delivery. Women and youths should also be actively involved and share their needs so that they are prioritised. If they do not take part in these engagements, no one will speak on their behalf,” she said.

Local government authorities and other public entities have a mandate to provide adequate and equitable provision of services in their jurisdictions. The 2013 Constitution has elevated services to being rights that citizens should be afforded.