Zimbabwe: Taking Bulawayo forward
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe: ZDDT field correspondent Lewis Jones talks to the Mayor of Zimbabwe's second City. According to the Mayor, Councillor Patrick Thaba Moyo, Bulawayo is headed for a period of positive growth.
Lewis Jones: Bulawayo was particularly hard hit by negative trends that affected Zimbabwe’s economy during the past decade. Has the recent upturn resulting from last year’s signing of an inter party, political agreement, had any positive impact upon the City?
Mayor: Recovery has been slow and expectations that we had at the time of the Agreement have not fully materialised. One year on, we as City leaders are rather
disappointed with the slow progress taking place. However, we remain optimistic that the pace will gather momentum in coming months.
Lewis Jones: Now that Zimbabwe is using stable currencies, has Council’s revenue collection base improved and what plans are there to resuscitate public infrastructure and amenities?
Mayor: Although progressive programmes for restoration exist, revenue collection levels remain low. This is partially because rate payers in all sectors are not fully honouring their commitments for services rendered by Council. Residents and government departments owe the City USD 60 Million. This means that the City is only realising between 25 and 30 percent of revenue collection capacities achieved under normal circumstances. That leaves a substantial short fall, which Council is unable to meet, as Central Government withhold moneys from the fiscus and loans from the banking sector
attract very high interest rates.
Lewis Jones: You once appealed to the private sector to assist Council with its restoration programmes for the City. What has the response been?
Mayor: Response has been very good. Several businesses have shown an interest to work with us, while others have actually come on board as partners. For example; a certain firm has brought in essential plant and machinery and offered it to Council on a hire to buy basis. This is an ideal arrangement, since it frees funds, which can then be utilised in other priority areas. We’ve also forged partnerships with organisations that assist us with improving the quality and levels of service delivery. One of these is the Zimbabwe Development Democracy Trust (ZDDT), who through their restoration initiatives, advocacy, leadership and skills training programmes in local communities, are adding value to the quality of life in society as a whole.
Lewis Jones: Speaking about ZDDT. The Trust, in recent months, had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the City Council and has since been working closely with them. How, in your opinion, has this relationship benefited communities and the Local Authority?
Mayor: As I have previously said, the interventions of ZDDT have had positive benefits for the communities where these were applied. Focus of the Trust’s work, upon City Councillors as key figures in their areas, has enhanced the status of such leaders and created a bond of trust between these and residents. ZDDT’s emphasis, in its programmes, on giving ownership of public infrastructure and amenities, to communities, has indued in residents a sense of pride in these. Hence I am able to tell you that it is probably because of this that incidences of vandalism have declined substantially in the City’s Wards. I have noted with interest, that certain Councillors were at first wary of ZDDT’s intentions. These initial suspicions seem to have disappeared and it is apparent that Councillors now view the Trust as a partner in their community responsibility activities.
Lewis Jones: How do you as the Local Authority’s principal officer view the City’s future in terms of positive development and improved service delivery levels?
Mayor: Bulawayo has an exciting future. Already, we are receiving inquiries from prospective investors to set up substantive development projects and as revenue collection figures improve, we as Council will be able to increase the levels and quality of service delivery. In my opinion, this, and the fact that the City boasts a professional work force, conscious of their responsibility to residents, should easily propel the City to lofty heights.