Suburban
THE Borrowdale Ratepayers and Residents Association has bemoaned the fragmented approach residents of Ward 18 are using in addressing service delivery issues.
Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter
According to the residents’ body, the numerous smaller residents’ associations formed in some suburbs were not synchronising their efforts to address service delivery issues resulting in a fragmented approach.
BRRA says it now has a new call as a residents’ representative body for residents to be more united towards achieving common objectives in Ward 18.
Ward 18 covers Borrowdale, Borrowdale Brooke, Greystone Park, Helensvale, Hogerty Hill, Philadelphia, Glen Lorne, Umwinsidale, Carrick Creagh, Crowhill and Quinnington.
While the BRRA is the umbrella residents’ representative body for Ward 18, there are numerous other smaller associations which include Borrowdale Brooke Home Owners Association, Carrick Creagh Home Owners Association and Quinnington Residents Association while in some suburbs residents have established neighbourhood watch committees that deal with mainly security issues although they sometimes find themselves having to handle other service delivery issues.
In an interview, BRRA chairperson Mr Robert Mutyasira said he is concerned about sporadic establishments of residents’ associations which are not coordinated enough to be a critical mass for change.
“We have been and still are trying to engage all the communities in the ward so that through the BRRA we can speak with one voice and bring about the changes we wish to see. As long as we are all speaking from our own corners, we appear fragmented and the local authority will always short change us on service delivery and other social rights.
“The leadership of the existing associations are proving to be a bit unresponsive and our attempts for engagement are hitting brick walls. We wish all sections of Ward 18 would take a leaf from Borrowdale Brooke Estate who have a highly functional and harmonious relationship with BRRA.
‘‘They contribute significantly towards the annual subscriptions and whenever possible they participate in activities aimed at improving our community.
“They have an option not to cooperate, as we all know the estate has functional facilities and systems, but with all their merits they understand they are part of a bigger circle. Greystone Park community too, work well with the umbrella association and the results are quite apparent. There are sound security systems in Greystone Park from which we can learn and benefit from,” said Mr Mutyasira.
BRRA secretary Ms Jo Ann Ross said if all residents could come together in such a manner that will make it possible for the problems of one section of the ward to be addressed through the combined efforts of the entire ward, only then can the several challenges facing suburbs in the ward be solved.
“We achieve more together than scattered no matter the credentials of our little sections. As a residents’ representative body, we are on a mission to engage Glen Lorne, Hogerty Hill, Philadelphia, Quinnington residents and all others within the ward for incorporation into the BRRA, please cooperate,” she said.
The BRRA says it still intends to hold the sectional meetings whether physically or virtually where they will facilitate the interface of communities with service providers who include the Zimbabwe Republic Police, power utility ZESA Holdings, the Environmental Management Agency, the City of Harare among others, relevant to their needs at any particular time.
“Sometimes visiting offices as individuals will not achieve much but these proposed meetings will sensitise service providers of the needs of their clients and hold them to account for non-implementation. Promises made in public have more impact than those made to an individual who visits the offices,” added Ms Ross.
