Residents share expectations for 2025

13 Dec, 2024 - 00:12 0 Views
Residents share expectations for 2025 Residents demand improved services from council in the New Year.

As 2024 comes to a close, Suburban spoke with Harare residents to understand their expectations for service delivery in 2025.

Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter

A resident from Greendale expressed the need for speed humps along Coronation Avenue, citing multiple road traffic accidents attributed to speeding.

“Can we have speed humps at PaGomba shops? There have been several accidents at the junction of Cunningham and Coronation Roads. Speed humps have been constructed along Rhodesville and Greendale Avenues; we need them on Coronation Avenue as well,” he said.

The resident also raised concerns about drug peddling by a vendor on Coronation Avenue.

“I’ve noticed with grave concern that one vendor is supplying drugs to young men. While I don’t want to imply that all roadside fruit and vegetable vendors are involved, the Greendale community must take action against this destructive activity. Sadly, some security personnel seem complicit. The vendor goes inside the gate to receive drug orders when customers arrive. Unless you observe closely, it’s difficult to see the harm being done to our youth,” he said.

A Letombo Park resident voiced her frustrations regarding water supply and refuse collection. “We receive water only once a week, and it’s not enough to fill a 1 000-litre tank. I suspect they are enriching the bulk water companies. When water is scarce, some bulk water truck drivers demand a ‘deal’—essentially a bribe—or you don’t get water,” she explained.

She added that garbage is collected every two or three weeks, leading to a growing rat population and occasional stray cat issues.

“Snakes are now appearing due to the rat problem. And please, for the love of God, fix the suburban roads. I’d like to see tangible results that justify our rates for suburban maintenance,” she said.

The resident also mentioned inconsistent electricity supply, noting periods of four days of load shedding followed by four days of power.

Residents of Sentosa raised concerns about the Mabelreign Local Area Plan 20, which they claimed was approved without their knowledge. The plan includes a proposal to establish a mental health and wellness clinic on Stand 2241 Mabelreign Township of Valance Dene of Subdivision C of Mabelreign (2 Hague Close, Mabelreign, Harare).

Residents argue that it is in a close in a residential area.

“This is just what we need in an area that has no water. We should take this issue up with the current commission (Presidential Commission of Inquiry probing the operations of the City of Harare from 2017 to date). The plan needs to be reversed or reviewed. With the new local area plan, anything goes—from fuel stations in residential areas to greenways being changed into residential stands,” they argued.

They expressed concerns about having a mental hospital in a small, hard-to-access road, stating, “Without sounding unkind, mentally challenged individuals can sometimes pose risks to other residents.”

Mr Ngoni Katsvairo, chairman of the Greater Harare Association of Commuter Omnibus Operators (GHACO), called for the City of Harare to eliminate duplications in registration fees between them and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development.

“They should only charge rank entry fees, while the Ministry handles route authority. They (council) must ring fence rank fees and improve and upgrade ranks by adding shades, lighting, sanitary facilities, and perimeter fencing. We need to stop the leaks in rank fees and tackle illegal operators. Pirate taxis have been blocking streets for over 10 years without any action from the council,” he said.

“Council must deal with illegal or pirate operators or at least designate some of the streets as ranks.

“Put in place clear and deterrent fines for pirate taxis and lighter fines for properly registered operators.

“There must be clear and distinct treatment and separation of legal and illegal operators.

“They must introduce a One Stop Shop with Ministry of Transport for ease of registration by legal operators.

“Council must invest in more ranks, holding bays, bus lanes and bus stops along routes.

“There is need to develop a transport policy and sign a service level agreement with bona fide transport associations for joint operation and management of ranks under a more like BOT system.”

A Cambridge Drive resident in Greendale shared that they have hired a private refuse collector due to inconsistent garbage collection but are still paying refuse charges to the City of Harare.

“We have no municipal water, yet we still incur a fixed monthly charge,” he noted.

Mr Michael Laban emphasised the need for the council to enforce regulations, combat corruption, and implement an effective Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for communication.

“We need transparency and an end to partisan politics—once elected, officials (councillors) should serve all citizens,” he stated.

Another Sentosa resident urged the council to enhance its online payment systems, making rates and charges easily accessible via the municipality’s website.

“This transparency is the first step in managing corruption. Residents should be able to create user accounts, view their bills, obtain printouts, and make secure online payments to reduce traffic and queues in banking halls,” she suggested.

She proposed that renewing business licenses, applying for building permits, booking inspections, and reporting non-functional traffic lights and potholes should all be available online. “Online reporting and feedback would eliminate the need for in-person meetings between council workers and residents,” she said.

The resident further suggested that residents should enter their own water meter readings online.

“The system could generate reports for properties with unusually high or low usage, allowing the council to investigate whether they are not receiving water, using borehole water, or understating their usage,” she explained.

She noted that there are many universities with information technology programmes capable of developing such a system without exorbitant costs.

“NSSA used one of the universities’ to programme its website. This does not need to be a multimillion dollar project.

“Councillors should oversee the project to ensure that the tender is realistic and valid, gather feedback from residents, and ensure milestones are reached,” she added.

Finally, she urged councillors to review income-generating projects in their wards, conducting spot checks to ensure reported income aligns with market rates.

“They should also familiarise themselves with council assets in their wards and compare town planning maps with the reality to determine if planning needs to change or if rules require better enforcement,” she concluded.

Share This:

Sponsored Links

Survey


We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey

This will close in 20 seconds