Mayor Thaba Moyo blasts residents for 'unwarranted' criticism

BULAWAYO Mayor Councillor Thaba Moyo has castigated Bulawayo United Residents' Association (Bura) for what he described as unwarranted criticism of council. Speaking during the tour of Bulawayo water supply dams on Friday, Clr Moyo, said residents associations were fond of criticising council without taking time to understand  how  the council operates.

"You have to be careful with how you articulate some of the issues.

"The media will seek comments from residents associations and the likes of Mr Winos Dube would give comments that are not based on knowledge," said Clr Moyo, drawing laughter from  officials who included Water Resources Development and Management Minister, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo.

Mr Dube is the chairman of the Bura, Bulawayo's biggest and oldest residents' association which has been very critical of the operations of the council.

The chairman insisted in an interview yesterday that his organisation would not be cowed but continue to play its watchdog role on behalf of residents.

Clr Moyo was making reference to the controversial debate over the use of Khami Dam water as part of efforts to ease water shortage in the city.

This was after Minister Nkomo had claimed he was misquoted in last year's stories in which he sparked controversy over use of Khami Dam water.

Minister Nkomo insisted that Khami water should be recycled and used for other purposes such as construction, urban agriculture and by industries so as to save treated water.

Speaking at the same occasion the city's director of engineering services Engineer Simela Dube, said the council in collaboration with Zesa and the National University of Science andTechnology (Nust) were conducting a study on how best Khami water could be recycled and utilised productively.

He indicated that there was a possibility of recycling 24 megalitres of water per day, which would cater for non-domestic usage.

Clr Moyo said a lot of money was needed to recycle Khami Dam water adding that there was a need to educate residents about the benefits of using recycled water.

Responding to the issue, Minister Nkomo challenged residents associations to do research before making comments to the media in order to avoid confusing the public.

"Residents' associations should comment from knowledge and this is only possible if they take time to understand issues before commenting. It is only in Bulawayo where recycled water is not used," said Minister Nkomo.

Contacted for comment Mr Dube hit back at Clr Moyo, saying his remarks were unfounded.  He said his association would continue to pile pressure on the council for it to deliver quality service.

"The association is there to express people's views. We do that from an informed viewpoint and people applaud us for that.

"Anyone who gets into leadership must deliver. We are there as a watchdog and our mandate is to hold the council accountable to the people and ensure that they do things correctly.

The council must pull up its socks because at the moment there is very little to celebrate about their service," he said.

Mr Dube said the city council should be transparent in its dealings and should always provide residents with adequate information in order to avoid speculation.

"The council should have an open-door policy and ensure that rate payers are informed about its operations. Failure to do this leaves room for speculation.

"The issue of Khami water does not need one to go to school to know that water in that Khami Dam is dirty," said Mr Dube.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association chairman Mr Reason Ngwenya said, "What we say is based on what affects people. If residents have a problem with something we will not keep quiet. We will make noise," said Mr Ngwenya.