Bulawayo community in infrastructure initiative

Written by Lewis Jones, Field Correspondent Friday, 21 May 2010 12:15

"Afflicted by poor workmanship, contractors, who had been engaged by the City Council to erect houses in the area, neglected to construct the required storm drainage."



BULAWAYO - Demonstrating an excellent example of community responsibility, the Councillor for Bulawayo Ward 26, together with his CAT and a group of residents, recently embarked upon a storm drainage excavation exercise in their area.

This action became necessary after several houses at the affected site were inundated by flood waters during the just ended rainy season.

Afflicted by poor workmanship, contractors, who had been engaged by the City Council to erect houses in the area, neglected to construct the required storm drainage.

Due to the absence of adequate resources, the Local Authority, seriously affected by the effects of a failed national economy, found itself unable to appropriately address the issue. However, the community took up the challenge, led by their Councillor and the CAT.

According to Cllr. Hlabani, the drain digging exercise, which is on going, had turned out to be remarkably successful. Describing the experience, he remarked, “When the City Council informed us that there was no money for drains, we were taken aback.

However, we quickly recovered and resolved to do the work ourselves. The Local Authority assisted by providing the specific guidelines to be followed in carrying out the task.” Cllr. Hlabani added that this is presently in its concluding stages.

He said that the next community exercise, earmarked for his Ward, and to be tackled by residents, would entail pot hole filling. Readers can be assured that the Trust will be right there at the scene to record all the details. In the same spirit, when alerted about the plight of the people in Ward 26, ZDDT offered assistance in the form of media coverage. An expose will also be flighted on the Trust’s website, depicting the resident’s dilemma and their self-help response in defeating dependency.

The initiative, in which ZDDT promotes community responsibility and a renewal of self confidence, is supported by international aid provider, ECEZ.