Ward 1 Councillor strives for a clean and prosperous City
L.J. You are known to have initiated various activities designed to clean up your Ward that is comprised of the City Centre. Could you elaborate on this?
E.M. Certainly. Several years ago, even before being elected as a Councillor, I began an initiative in which business people in the Central Business District (CBD) were persuaded to erect gates at openings leading into sanitary lanes. These lanes have steadily, over the years, become breeding grounds for rodents, mosquitoes and diseases related to such pests. Blame for this can be squarely put down to the dumping of litter and fouling by irresponsible members of the public. I’m glad to report that the gating exercise has been a resounding success, as it is evident that most people approached have complied and conditions in these lanes can be said to have become much more hygienic.
LJ. What other initiatives relating to the cleaning of your neighbourhood have you conducted?
E.M. On various occasions I, the Ward Community Action Team and residents have teamed up with the business community and civic society in carrying out clean up operations in the CBD. These exercises have largely been successful. Besides tidying up the neighbourhood, they have acted as a means to educate the general public on the need for a clean environment and the importance of achieving such a goal. There are also plans to take similar awareness campaigns to the City’s schools and tertiary institutions.
L.J. It seems that in spite of these successes, certain areas in the Ward are losing the battle against litter. Can you give an explanation for this situation?
E.M. Yes. This mainly has to do with Council having inadequate resources to engage sufficient cleaning staff. The few cleaners that there are, cannot even begin to cope with the sheer volumes of litter generated by the public in areas where there is a high density of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
L.J. The City has an anti-litter by-law. Given the circumstances, is this legislation being enforced?
E.M. While an anti-litter law does exist, enforcing it has become a challenge. Again the lack of necessary resources may be cited. I have to admit however, that Council is doing its very best with whatever resources it does have.
L.J. turning to the alarming relocation of companies from Bulawayo; what is your take on the situation?
E.M. It is indeed a worrying situation. This flight of investment from the City began in the 1960’s to be exact. However, the pace gathered momentum in the last two decades. One school of thought blames the situation on political manipulation, while another says lack of a reliable source of clean water combined with economic factors are the responsible culprits. I personally believe that a combination of all these aspects contribute to the cause.
L.J. Would you say that there is a reasonable chance that a lasting solution will be found?
E.M. I consider myself as an optimist. The nation’s economy is definitely on the mend, albeit at a rather slow pace. Although companies may be relocating, there are others, of substance, trickling in. I believe with a reformed national political dispensation and urgent addressing of the water issue by the relevant authorities, commerce and industry in Bulawayo will experience a strong resurgence. The City’s geographical location coupled with well established and fairly sophisticated infrastructure, goes to ensure that it still remains a logically attractive investment destination. Just watch this space and then let’s talk in a few years time.
L.J. Availability of an adequate electricity supply has been a national problem for several years now and Bulawayo has not been spared. It is said that you have initiated a move that would see the City reclaiming the local power station, situated in your Ward, from The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority. What has been achieved so far, concerning this aspect and how, in your opinion, would this benefit the City.
E.M. I believe that the national power utility, because of its cumbersome nature cannot, under the circumstances, provide an efficient service delivery system. Bearing this in mind, I have organised several well attended and high powered meetings at the large City Hall, in the centre of town, at which panels consisting of influential people from every sector in society were invited to speak and take questions from the floor. It is a known fact that when Council was in charge of operations at the power station, the flow of power for industrial, business and domestic use was reasonably constant, while “load shedding” was an unheard of phenomenon. Getting back our power station is bound to bring obvious benefits to the City. I am convinced that in such an event, Council will live up to its reputation for efficient distribution of power, thereby contributing to alleviation of related problems. It is my profound conviction that this together with the availability of a reliable water source should ensure that Bulawayo will regain its former status as a prosperous City.