Suburban
In light of the many challenges the City of Harare is facing, the Borrowdale Ratepayers and Residents Association (BRRA) says instead of expending time analysing the causes of the problems, it is urging residents and corporates to deliberately take charge of their affairs.
Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter
In an interview on Wednesday, the BRRA chairman Mr Robert Mutyasira said although the CoH is mandated to take care of them as citizens and residents, it is up to them to see that they are doing something towards their expected outcomes.
“Participating in community initiatives and filling the gaps where necessary is one way we can have a hand in the transformation of our communities. Remaining on the periphery and waiting for other people to make decisions which will affect you is tantamount to gross irresponsibility,” he said.
“The COVID-19 wave should, by now, have registered the need for personal, corporate and institutional change management. Certain things are not just not going to be what they used to be prior to the pandemic. It is therefore necessary to adjust, adopt and adapt as well as make an about turn with some of our instilled behaviours.”
He said it is encouraging to note that there are new entrants in the corporate social responsibility spectrum and they are beginning to see more corporates and individuals making strides, often long and progressive strides, in correcting and improving the communities in which they live and operate.
“The changes taking place especially around the Helensvale shopping centre owe credit to a few individuals who have just decided to be the initiators of change and converting their community into what they would want it to be. On a certain day, I noticed a tractor cutting grass along our road and I stopped to enquire from the driver on where his instructions came from and I was so humbled to know it was a certain owner of a haulage company living in the Borrowdale area who dispatched his own tractor, equipment and resources to take care of what our local authorities are failing to do.”
“Driving along Borrowdale Road one would see environmentally friendly changes on the islands directly opposite the offices of certain corporates. Green grass and well-designed flower arrangements are a joy to the souls of users of the road. These are the small things that make a big difference. We expect that other corporates will emulate and begin to take care of their immediate environment and if residents join in by ascertaining that their vicinities are clean as well as free from litter, tall grass and over grown bushes then we have hope of better communities,” said Mr Mutyasira.
He also urged residents to notice corporates and businesses who make a difference by participating in ticking off of boxes on the community’s wish list.
“When we decide to spend our money or seek for services, we need to adopt an affirmative approach and patronize the businesses that give back to the community. Only them deserve to put our money in their till no matter how small they are. Among those to be supported are those who employ youths from Borrowdale and its immediate environs,” said Mr Mutyasira.
He added that there are roads to be repaired at shopping centres, decent market places to be erected, street lighting to be improved, police stations to be assisted, bus stops to be constructed, clinics to be revamped among many other needs. And if each resident did something then they will begin to see real changes to their welfare and livelihoods.
The BRRA’s strategy comes in the wake of an appeal by the City of Harare for residents and corporates to help the municipality with equipment for waste collection and reducing the amount of waste by recycling and separating waste at the source.
