Bulawayo Ward 12 Councillor appeals for active resident participation in ward meetings

Bulawayo Ward 12 Councillor Maziwakibo Masuku has urged residents to actively participate in and attend ward meetings, emphasizing that they play a crucial role in the community’s growth and development.

In an interview, Masuku highlighted that residents in his ward have not been attending the meetings regularly, which has led to several ongoing challenges.

"In Njube, we are facing persistent sewage bursts, and while residents have been blaming the council, we’ve identified that much of the problem is being caused by residents themselves," he said.

Masuku explained that many residents dispose of solid waste in the drainage systems due to a lack of awareness. This is partly because they have not attended meetings that would provide them with the knowledge needed to prevent such issues.

"We are also dealing with the problem of illegal waste dumping, which is harmful to the environment. Residents need to understand that they have a role to play in keeping their surroundings clean," he said.

He added that while the council has been working to repair the sewage bursts, limited resources have delayed progress in some areas.

"The residents need to realize that these meetings are for their benefit. By participating, they gain valuable knowledge and become empowered to contribute to the development of their community, which in turn improves their living standards," Masuku said.

He also reminded residents that the community belongs to them, and failing to protect it could lead to greater suffering as it directly impacts their well-being.

"The lack of engagement in ward meetings has resulted in a decline in living standards, as residents miss out on important information from technical experts. This lack of knowledge leads to continued harmful practices that damage the environment," said Masuku.