THE Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) has issued a strong warning over what it describes as a worrying decline in the city’s service delivery, urging Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to urgently restore transparency, accountability, and resident-centred leadership within the local authority. “Bulawayo is experiencing a concerning decline that requires urgent corrective action. We call for strengthened accountability and decisive leadership that is transparent, resident-centred, and free from external political influence,” the association said.
The organisation urged councillors to uphold their constitutional mandate to represent residents faithfully and place public interest above political considerations. It said the mixed messages have weakened public trust and contributed to confusion among residents.“Consistency in communication is equally important. Conflicting statements have weakened public trust and created unnecessary confusion,” read part of the statement.
BPRA further called for stronger oversight mechanisms following recurring allegations of asset mismanagement, theft, and governance failures within the local authority. The association further stated that contracts of senior officials, including that of the Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube, must be assessed using clear performance indicators rather than political agendas or legal maneuvering. The statement noted that councillors appear increasingly preoccupied with the Town Clerk’s contract controversy at the expense of tackling the city’s waning service delivery crisis.
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BPRA urged council to treat the contract dispute as a straightforward legal and labour issue, not a political battleground, and instead focus on urgent resident needs. “This issue should be handled as a straightforward labour and legal matter, not a political battleground. We urge councillors to prioritise residents’ needs and the long-term stability of the city,” said the association. BPRA called for City Hall to exude professionalism, objectivity, and integrity.“…Guide all council actions as Bulawayo faces mounting challenges such as water shortages, waste management problems, road maintenance backlogs, and deteriorating municipal service delivery standards,” read the statement.
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