Our hands are tied: BCC

 Providence Moyo

Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is challenging Bulawayo residents to heighten calls for devolution if there is to be development in the city. 

This came out during a stakeholder feedback meeting tagged ‘Devolution Funds usage on service delivery hosted by Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) in partnership with the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development(ZIMCODD) on Wednesday.

Speaking during the engagement present councillors said the local authority, receives instructions from central government on how to use devolution funds, which defeats the purpose of devolution. 

Deputy Mayor , Councillor Mlandu Ncube said the top-down approach by government is problematic in the sense that government’s priorities  may be at odds with council and residents’ needs and preferences.

“When devolution funds come, they are paired with clear instructions on what needs to be done so as the local authority  we do not have much say. However, residents demand answers from us on how priorities were set on the usage of devolution funds. Residents need to stand up and demand proper devolution that will capacitate us as BCC and residents to decide on how we want to use the funds. We know our problems as a city and through consultative meetings we know what exactly our people need and what Bulawayo wants and that is how we can be answerable to the residents,” said Cllr Ncube.

Ward 22 Councillor Rodney Jele concurred with the Deputy Mayor and urged residents to join the fight against central government’s inteference in the local authority’s works. He said doing so  would yield better results as far as service delivery is concerned.

“In our lone fight as council, we are powerless and easily bullied but together we stand a chance in winning the battle and we will be able to attend to our problems accurately,” Cllr Jele said. 

Ward 17 Councillor Skhululekile Moyo expressed concerns over residents who do not attend consultative neetings as she said they miss out on a lot on pertinent issues like devolution funds. 

 “Nxa sibize umhlangano inani labantu ababuyayo ayisilo esiyabe silikhangelele , izakhamisi esiphila lazo ezikhutheleyo ezisukumela phezulu zilutshwana.  UBulawayo kumele amelwe ngabantu abahlala khona hatshi omunye lomunye .Akula develotuon of power , izakhamizi zenza kahle ngokulwa lokhansila kodwa asuye yedwa okhangelane lomsebenzi oyabe kumele wenziwe , kodwa uhulumende laye uyaphatheka ngakho izakhamizi azize emihlanganweni nxa ibiziwe ukuze sizochasiselana ngendlela,” she said.

BVTA Director Micheal Ndiweni said Bulawayo residents need a symbiotic relationship between central government and the local authority. 

“These two must craft and mold their relationship as we need to see a relationship that works in the best interests of the citizens because as citizens we hardly care about their fights and scapegoating kabakhe ubudlelwano obuhle bengajikelani inyoka ephilayo,” said Ndiweni.

The Deputy Mayor revealed that water and roads rehabilitation  are high on the list of major challenges the city looks forward to address.