Cowdray Park residents reject Kwangu/Ngokwami project

Residents of Cowdray Park in Bulawayo have called for the immediate suspension of the controversial Kwangu/Ngokwami servicing project, accusing authorities of pushing ahead with infrastructure plans without adequate consultation and imposing unaffordable financial demands on households.

The demands were made during a residents' consultation meeting convened on Saturday by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) and the Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA), attended by residents from Wards 6 and 15.

The meeting resolved that all project activities should be halted until full and meaningful consultation is conducted between the City of Bulawayo, the developer and affected communities.

"Kwangu/Ngokwami must adjourn all activities in the area pending full consultation with Bulawayo City Council and residents," the residents resolved.

According to participants, the city council had previously informed residents that Kwangu had been contracted to carry out sewerage and road infrastructure development in the area. However, residents said promised consultations had not taken place in a structured or transparent manner.

The project has reportedly been estimated to cost around US$39 million for servicing Wards 6 and 15, with residents raising concerns over a proposed payment model requiring households to contribute approximately US$83 per month over five years.

"Both City Council and Kwangu expect residents to fund the servicing. Kwangu proposes US$83 per month for five years, which residents deem unaffordable given the current economic conditions," the meeting noted.

Residents said they were frustrated by what they described as repeated and inconsistent development arrangements in Cowdray Park, citing previous schemes involving different developers.

"Residents expressed fatigue with repeated service delivery schemes first the Consortium, then City Council, and now Kwangu. Residents also question why City Council continually changes land developers," the report stated.

Concerns were also raised over alleged intimidation during earlier engagements involving project representatives, councillors and elected officials.

Residents claimed that at one meeting, officials described the project as a Presidential directive and suggested that withdrawal was not an option.

"Elected officials allegedly took turns to intimidate residents, stating that the Kwangu project was a Presidential directive and that residents had no right to withdraw from it," the report noted.

Disputes have also emerged over the number of households in the area. While the city council estimates about 11 000 households, residents claim independent figures suggest there are more than 15 524 households, raising questions about planning assumptions and cost distribution.

The meeting also revisited past payments made by residents for servicing, with claims that earlier contributions made in local currency, including bond notes, RTGS and bearer cheques, have been declared "null and void" by council.

Residents further demanded greater transparency, calling for Kwangu to publish a detailed bill of quantities and revise what they described as unfavourable contractual terms.

They also rejected any arrangement that would allow private entities to hold or control residents' title deeds as part of financing arrangements.

"Kwangu has no right to possess or preside over residents' title deeds," the meeting resolved.

Adopting the slogan "Nothing for us, without us," the residents mandated local civic groups and Senator Collet Ndlovu to engage the Office of the President over the matter, while also resolving to seek legal advice and involve the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.

The dispute highlights growing tensions between urban authorities and residents over infrastructure financing models, transparency and public participation in major development projects in Bulawayo.