CHIZHANJE RESIDENTS’ UPDATE
12 May 2011
RESIDENTS ANGRY WITH LOCAL COUNCILLOR (WARD 21) FOR NEGLIGENCE
Chizhanje- RESIDENTS here have lambasted their ward councillor Enias Gengezha (Ward 21) for abandoning their area, and instead has been seen drinking beer most of the times, yet they have heard of his attendances at councillors’ or city workshops held in Kariba, Victoria Falls and other flamboyant venues, at the expense of the rate payer.
The residents said this while contributing to a focus group discussion on service delivery held Thursday 12 May 2011 in the area by the Chizhanje Residents’ Committee.
“The councillor lives here at Number 8 Muroti Road but he has failed to organise a single meeting to attend to our problems,” one resident said. “Is there no way we can remove him. He is a failure, it is better to be without a councillor.”
Other residents expressed shock at the way he allegedly guzzles beer at the local bottle store yet he has not been heard to voice any concerns on behalf of the Chizhanje community or Mabvuku during council meetings. They felt that the councillor has not been honest with their community, especially when it comes to holding feedback meetings and updating them on what is happening in council. Despite initial demonstration of commitment to engage residents, the councillor has all but disappeared. When the councillor was elected he announced that he would be meeting residents on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays at council offices but he is never in to attend to residents.
This was one of several issues that residents raised concerning their welfare. Other issues raised include;
• The unprofessional conduct of nursing staff at Mabvuku Satellite Clinic
• Corruption and discriminatory behaviour of nurses when dispensing drugs to residents- some are given prescriptions to buy drugs elsewhere yet others are given the available drugs for free, for same ailment and same prescription.
• Collapse of soak away and septic tank that has gone for a long time without being attended to.
• The overcrowding within the area.
• High rates by the local authority.
• The community has no Grade Zero or crèche for ease of access by their children, who end up walking nearly three or five kilometres to the nearby school in Mabvuku.
The full report will be following.
For details and comments, please contact us on info@hrt.org.zw/ hretrust@yahoo.com or visit our website www.hrt.org.zw or mobiles 0772 869 294/ 0773 249 039
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