Bulawayo Council looks to restore City parks

BULAWAYO – ZDDT Field Correspondent, Lewis Jones recently interviewed Bulawayo City Council’ s Parks Officer, Eastern Area, Mr. Sobhuku Dube, who revealed that the City’ s Parks are due for a major make-over. The exercise when complete will see the restoration of the entire City’ s existing parks, which over the past decade, have gradually declined into varying levels of disrepair.

New parks are expected to be developed in the various Wards, at sites designated for such purposes, especially where these facilities are presently absent.  

Of particular interest in this regard, is the coincidence of these plans with (ZDDT) Zimbabwe Development Democracy Trust’ s most recently introduced community restoration initiative, known in short, as the Urban Greening Campaign.

Parks resuscitation, forms a major component in the campaign, which is being conducted in conjunction with Gweru based civil society organisation, Demcof. City Councillors and residents in Bulawayo and Gweru (the locations selected to act as hosts to the pilot schemes) are set to cooperate closely with the initiative’ s implementers. The German Government and international relief agency GTZ/BMZ provide funding for the programme.

Below is an excerpt of the interview:

Lewis Jones: How accurate are recently emerged indications that The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is planning the restoration of its most essential parks, in the near future?

Sobhuku Dube: There are plans to restore these facilities which were formerly classed as amongst the best in Southern Africa. Work will soon begin in earnest on the City’ s 2 major public recreational areas, namely, the Centenary and Central Parks.

Lewis Jones: Just how much has the human neglect factor contributed to the decline of our parks in terms of aesthetic appearance and maintenance standards?

Sobhuku Dube: Several reasons are responsible for that decline, the human factor you refer to, being the very least of these. You no doubt are aware of the disastrous economic situation that has prevailed throughout Zimbabwe in recent times. During this period, Council, like all local authorities in the Country, has been unable to provide normal services and therefore parks together every other department have suffered. The City’ s water reclamation system which provided parks with water, has long since broken down. Our work-force is down to 2 percent of what it was. This being due to the inability to retain staff because of low levels of remuneration that Council is currently offering workers. Besides that, essential equipment necessary for maintaining acceptable standards in parks is either unavailable or has simply fallen into disrepair.

Lewis Jones: May we perhaps return to the subject of restoring Central and Centenary Parks?

Sobhuku Dube: Certainly. You might be pleased to know that the preliminary work has already begun. We’ ve drilled one bore-hole in Central Park while work on a second is under way. A well and 2 existing bore-holes in Centenary Park have been cleaned, re-encased and reactivated. The National Museums staffs at their facility in that park have offered us access to an underground stream that runs beneath the museum. These various sources should provide a fairly adequate water supply in the short term, pending repairs to the traditional reclamation system.

Lewis Jones: What sort of changes may residents expect to see in the City’ s public recreational areas as a result of these efforts?

Sobhuku Dube: As I have previously said, you can expect to see these areas reclaiming their formerly renowned high standards. You may be assured that given improved availability of funds, that this will certainly be the case. Although I cannot speak on behalf of areas which do not fall under my jurisdiction, I have every confidence in the ability of my colleagues in the City’ s western districts to competently carry out the restoration work in their areas.

Lewis Jones: Incidentally ZDDT, the Organisation I represent, has recently embarked upon an Urban Greening Campaign that aims at resuscitating parks in the Wards of Bulawayo and Gweru, with the cooperation of Councillors and residents. How do you suppose this may assist with the Local Authority’ s plans in this regard?

Sobhuku Dube: ZDDT is no stranger to me. I am well aware of the commendable work they are doing in local communities, since I come from one area that has benefited. I think that the campaigns you mention could be most compatible with efforts we are conducting in terms of restoration work. Perhaps our Organisations could explore the possibility of exchanging essential information of relevance through consultations. Above all it is necessary for us to work as a team. In my own experience, team work plays the major role in solving some of the most difficult situations.

While anticipating such developments, here’ s hoping that people in the Cities of Bulawayo and Gweru, will once again be able to enjoy the recreational activities they once did in parks that echoed with bird song. They might also have the opportunity to revel again in rolling lush green areas, redolent with scents of exotic or local blooms.

Families could appreciate the meticulously tended shrubs, flower-beds, lawns and sparkling clear ponds or just relax in safe and pleasant surroundings.