BRRA AGM tackles progress, future plans

The Borrowdale Ratepayers and Residents Association (BRRA) last Friday convened its annual general meeting at the Borrowdale Brooke Golf Club to review the past year’s accomplishments and outline plans for the future.

Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter

The association, which represents diverse communities in Ward 18, has been actively engaged in various initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life for residents and addressing key community challenges.

A primary goal of the BRRA has been to foster unity within the community, transcending individual neighbourhood associations to ensure a cohesive representation of the entire ward.

This approach has been demonstrated through initiatives such as the adoption of refuse collection compactors from the City of Harare, now serving the entire ward to ensure a unified voice in engaging with service providers.

BRRA has also been taking part in community development projects with a particular focus on Helensvale Shopping Centre.

Efforts to revitalise the shopping centre and integrate informal traders into the transformation process are underway including plans to build proper vending market stalls to support small to medium enterprises.

The construction of a long-awaited bus stop on Crowhill Road adjacent to the shopping complex is nearing completion, displaying the association’s commitment to building community infrastructure.

Environmental sustainability has also been a key focus for the BRRA, with efforts to deal with environmental infractions through collaboration with responsible authorities and making use of litigation to rein in offenders.

The formation of a consortium involving agencies such as the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), the Forestry Commission, water catchment authorities, the City of Harare and the Zimbabwe Republic Police has provided a platform to tackle environmental issues.

Looking ahead to 2024, the association aims to further enhance coordinated custodianship of the environment.

BRRA’s running memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City of Harare, under which it has been allocated two refuse trucks dedicated to Ward 18 suburbs and Hatcliffe high density suburb, is due for renewal.

Despite interruptions in service due to refuse truck breakdowns, the association has worked diligently with the city to restore collection schedules, ensuring that essential services are almost back to normal.

BRRA chairperson Mr Robert Mutyasira expressed gratitude to the community for the stakeholders’ support the body receives in Ward 18. He also thanked the City of Harare’s Borrowdale District Office and the residents for their participation and contributions in service delivery matters.

“I would like to express my profound gratitude to our all-weather partners, the Borrowdale Brooke Estate, for providing a meeting place for all our meetings as and when we have need. They have so far been the biggest contributor to our annual subscriptions. Several businesses and property owners, including Total Helensvale, Dr Chandiwana, Box Park, Spar Helensvale, Zuva Helensvale, and many others, have always augmented our interventions.

“Our City of Harare (Borrowdale) district office deserves special mention as they have improved in their responsiveness. We have worked together quite well. Residents, you have been phenomenal in your participation on the WhatsApp forums and in attending community meetings. Your contributions on these forums have informed decision-making processes at the highest level. May we do even better in 2024,” he said.

Mr Mutyasira commended the hardworking BRRA committee for their commitment to residents’ concerns.

“I will not be doing justice to this narrative if I leave out my hardworking BRRA committee.

“Their exceptional commitment and sensitivity to all matters that concern residents, many times at their own expense and time, is commendable and deserves our appreciation. We have held all our monthly meetings of the year, and deliberations have been dynamic and fruitful. I hope 2024 will be a fruitful year that we will continue to create unique and effective value consensus.

“The positive development of our community is a possibility, and achieving our high expectations will be determined by how well each one of us performs,” said Mr Mutyasira.

BRRA’s commitment to community development and service provision reflects a proactive and collaborative approach to addressing the needs of Borrowdale residents.

As the association looks towards the future, it aims to further strengthen its engagement with the community and continue its work to enhance the quality of life for all residents.

Under the residents’ body’s stewardship, significant progress has been in addressing community challenges.

Through strategic initiatives and collaborative efforts, the association has demonstrated a commitment to fostering unity, promoting community development, and ensuring environmental sustainability.