News / Local
Byo residents accuse councillors of incompetency and corruption
22 Feb 2013 at 18:09hrs | Views
Councillor Amen Mpofu
BULAWAYO residents yesterday took city councillors to task accusing them of incompetency and corruption.
Speaking during a consultative meeting on the amendment of the Urban Councils Act at the Small City Hall, residents said they were not happy with the performance of councillors, whom they blamed for running the city down.
The residents were responding to earlier remarks by the Deputy Mayor Councillor Amen Mpofu, who claimed that unlike other local authorities accused of corruption, Bulawayo City Council was clean.
"That is not true, corruption by our councillors is appalling. There is a lot of corruption going on in the wards and councillors are the major culprits. It is shocking that you the leaders seem not to be aware of it," said a resident from the floor.
The residents said the local authority should formulate a policy to monitor the activities and performance of the councillors in order to make them accountable.
"Councillors in the city are corrupt and something should be done. There is need for a proper monitoring system to evaluate the performance of our councillors," said another resident.
The residents said most of the city"s councillors were incompetent hence they were failing to deliver.
"We have a lot of councillors who are not qualified to hold the offices they are occupying. This city needs to be run by councillors who are serious," said another resident.
The residents criticised the council for leasing out public toilets within the city centre, saying the decision worked against public health.
The residents said they were not happy about the harassment of vendors within the central business district by municipal police.
"Other cities are able to generate adequate revenue to enable them to deliver services to their residents but our situation is the opposite," fumed one of the youths.
The residents took a swipe at the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (Bupra) saying the association had ceased to represent the interests of residnts because it was now a mouthpiece of the city council.
"It seems whatever the city council says Bupra also backs it. We wonder why you are defending council instead of representing our interests," said another resident.
Meanwhile, the MP for Buhera Central Mr Tangwara Matimba tabled proposed amendments to the Urban Councils Act at the meeting.
Speaking during a consultative meeting on the amendment of the Urban Councils Act at the Small City Hall, residents said they were not happy with the performance of councillors, whom they blamed for running the city down.
The residents were responding to earlier remarks by the Deputy Mayor Councillor Amen Mpofu, who claimed that unlike other local authorities accused of corruption, Bulawayo City Council was clean.
"That is not true, corruption by our councillors is appalling. There is a lot of corruption going on in the wards and councillors are the major culprits. It is shocking that you the leaders seem not to be aware of it," said a resident from the floor.
The residents said the local authority should formulate a policy to monitor the activities and performance of the councillors in order to make them accountable.
"Councillors in the city are corrupt and something should be done. There is need for a proper monitoring system to evaluate the performance of our councillors," said another resident.
The residents said most of the city"s councillors were incompetent hence they were failing to deliver.
"We have a lot of councillors who are not qualified to hold the offices they are occupying. This city needs to be run by councillors who are serious," said another resident.
The residents criticised the council for leasing out public toilets within the city centre, saying the decision worked against public health.
The residents said they were not happy about the harassment of vendors within the central business district by municipal police.
"Other cities are able to generate adequate revenue to enable them to deliver services to their residents but our situation is the opposite," fumed one of the youths.
The residents took a swipe at the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (Bupra) saying the association had ceased to represent the interests of residnts because it was now a mouthpiece of the city council.
"It seems whatever the city council says Bupra also backs it. We wonder why you are defending council instead of representing our interests," said another resident.
Meanwhile, the MP for Buhera Central Mr Tangwara Matimba tabled proposed amendments to the Urban Councils Act at the meeting.
Source - TC
