By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu
MASVINGO City Council has been given a 72 hour ultimatum to address poor service delivery by the Masvingo Residents Forum.
The issues were presented and signed by the MRF Chairman Brighton Ramusi to the Masvingo City Council in a letter that addressed to the Acting town Clerk, Eng Edward Mukaratirwa, all Masvingo Councilors, the Masvingo District Development Coordinator Roy Hove, Masvingo Urban Member of Parliament, Hon Jacob Nyokanhete, Masvingo, Minister of State and Devolution, Hon Ezra Chadzamira and the Masvingo Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and Housing.
MRF noted that the MCC has failed the residents.
“We are here to peacefully submit our grievances to the MCC due to the fact that our local leaders have dismally failed the residents. MCC has failed to consult residents on matters of public interest. The local authority is doing things on its own without taking the public into considerations.”
The Council has to meet certain demands to make things right with its residents.
“We demand reduction of social service rates with immediate effect. MCC should account for road an sewer levies before introducing and collecting new lighting, fire and emergence response levies and allows residents to conduct social audits on local council projects. Before the resumption of Mucheke trunk sewer project we demand you to disclose the total amount required for the project. Allow residents to conduct social audits on local authority projects eg water argumentation project. There is need for consultation of residents and rate payers. To look for new contractor for the trunk sewer basing on the fact that a lot has changed since 2013,” the statement read.
Masvingo city is faced by a myriad of challenges. There is poor road infrastructure despite households paying road maintenance levy and parking fees. The sewer and sanitation services have deteriorated and there is no water provision.
The council again stands accused of approving the construction of houses on wetlands in Victoria Range.
In an interview with one resident from ward 7, Simon Muwashi said, “The City Council should address grievances that were presented as the residents’ forum. The council has been failing to provide us with the required services they should be providing. We are paying our rates every month but still they are doing nothing, where is the money going?”
