Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube
The Bulawayo City Council has announced that all pensioned property owners can apply for a 50% rebate on their property bills, regardless of their previous employment.
This clarification follows concerns raised after the local council disconnected the water supply for Mr. Neban Nyalenda, a 98-year-old pensioner who worked for the council for nearly half a century.
Mr. Nyalenda, who resides in Thokozani Flats in the Mzilikazi suburb, is bedridden and lives with his medically unwell son.
In addressing the situation, Mrs. Nesisa Mpofu, the council spokesperson, stated,
“We have a rates rebate for all pensioned property owners, regardless of where they were employed. This rebate is 50 percent of the property tax or rates granted upon application from the consumer.”
Support for Struggling Residents
Mrs. Mpofu also highlighted the council’s commitment to assisting residents facing financial difficulties.
“Consumers are free to approach any council revenue office to negotiate payment arrangement plans in order to avoid debt collection actions,” she noted.
The council conducts assessments on community members struggling to make payments, with social welfare offices visiting to produce reports that inform decisions.
“This arrangement is to ensure their situation is not worsened, and at best social support measures are instituted with partners to alleviate the situation,” she added, emphasizing that disconnection teams do not disconnect services where a bedridden person resides.
Furthermore, the council provides 3,000 liters of free water as a safety net for families in need.
Community Outcry
Despite these policies, the disconnection of water services at Mr. Nyalenda’s home has garnered significant backlash from the community. Mr. Winos Dube, chairperson of the Bulawayo United Residents Association (Bura), criticized the council’s actions as “heartless and mean.” He remarked,
“For a man who worked nearly half his life for the council to be treated in such an inhuman manner by his former employers is heartbreaking.”
Dube questioned,
“What will the council lose if this man was exempted from paying anything at all? They can’t show a human face to this?”
He stressed the need for compassion, particularly for elderly residents who have contributed to the city’s welfare.
Mr. Nyalenda’s Ordeal
Reflecting on his situation, Mr. Nyalenda shared his distress:
“They came here early this year and knocked on the door, but because I am bedridden, I could not open the door. The next thing I realized was that there was no water coming out of my tap. The situation has been unbearable for me since then.”
He explained that he has seven children, but most do not live with him.
“The one I am living with is not well too, just like me,” he said, revealing the difficulties his family faces in these times of economic turmoil.
Local resident Ms. Samu Khumalo, who has been assisting Mr. Nyalenda, expressed her concerns about his living conditions.
“Without water, the situation is unbearable. Sometimes he soils himself, which means blankets have to be washed,” she stated.
Council’s Response
Scandal riddled Ward 8 Councillor Edwin Ndlovu, representing the residents of Mzilikazi and serving as the City’s’s Deputy’s Mayor, acknowledged that he had not been aware of Mr. Nyalenda’s predicament.
He advised the family to visit the social welfare offices at the Mzilikazi housing office for additional support.
Conclusion
The Bulawayo City Council’s rebate program for pensioned property owners is a commendable initiative designed to ease financial burdens. However, the case of Mr. Nyalenda highlights the urgent need for the council to communicate effectively and ensure that vulnerable residents receive the support they need. The community’s strong response emphasizes the importance of empathy and integrity within local governance.
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