Prominance Sinomusa Khumalo
The Office of the Mayor of Bulawayo was under siege from residents who believe that have been ‘conned’ of their hard earned money through purchase of residential stands.
In 2016, the Bulawayo City Council offered to sell residential stands to eager citizens, promising them a place to call home in Magwegwe West.
Two years later in 2018, Council officials demanded additional payments, leaving many wondering what was happening at the Tower Block.
What was the demand of top up before the stands had been allocated?
At this juncture the would be residential stand owners wondered if they would be allocated the stands.
Nontheless residents fully obliged and paid the top up.
From that time there has been excuse after excuse from the Tower Block, thus, the residents teamed up and besieged the Mayor’s offices.
It took expertise from the leader of the team to calm down the situation as many, women, amongst them, wanted to turn the unexpected visit to the Mayor into a demonstration.
The residents claimed that despite numerous visits to the council offices, they have been met with a barrage of excuses, their dreams of homeownership dangling in limbo.
One woman who was nearly in tears sited Jerry Sibanda as the chief culprit.
“Besikhuluma lo Jerry Sibanda. Nguye igwelegwele. Uyazitshela umuntu akathinteki. Ukutshiya umile Ku corridor anqwethe azivalele Ku office yakhe.”
we have been talking to Jerry Sibanda. He is the chief culprit. He lacks respect, he will leave you standing by the corridor and close himself in his office.
Jerry Sibanda is the current housing officer at Bulawayo City Council.
Umkami nguye owaqala indaba le wazewafa watshiya umntanakhe ele 2 years. Namhla ule10 years, still no stand.” She continued.
Another woman who preffered anomnimity testified saying,
“Kunini sibuya lapha oNesisa besitshela fake stories and we are tired its been 10 years now lokhe sihlala sitshitsha khona silanda ukuzotshelwa amanga that is why sifuna uMayor asitshele ukuthi kwenzakalani. Phela 10 years is not a joke”.
The frustration reached a boiling point, prompting Bulawayo Mayor, Senator David Coltart, to address the concerned citizens by the foyer of his office.
In the imprompt meeting, Senator Coltart assured the crowd that a resolution was near, promising to convene a meeting to resolve the long-standing issue. But for many, the wait has been too long, and trust in the council’s ability to deliver has worn thin.
“I hear you but am not able to attend to you right now cause am in the middle of going to a Memorial service for the late Alderman and after that I have an update on water. Afterwards I have some meeting as well. You will be called for a meeting next week. But I assure you I will fix this with the city councillors”. Assured David Coltat the Mayor.
QUESTIONS WHICH REMAIN:
- Will the council finally make good on its promises?
- How much longer will citizens have to wait for their stands?
- What measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future?
The people of Bulawayo eagerly await answers, hoping for a swift and satisfactory resolution to this prolonged saga.
Another resident who is the chairman of the group, Mr Odwin Dube said,
“Right now the Mayor is pretending as if he doesn’t know about this issue but there are council resolutions to it. But still we want answers and our stands.”
Mr Odwin said to date he has paid US$11000 for his outstanding stand.
We await an amicable conclusion to this saga.
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