By Flata Kavinga
Residents associations in Kwekwe have been urged to work together and strengthen engagement with the local authority in order to promote accountability and improve service delivery.
The call was made by Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) programmes manager Mable Murambiwa during a Social Accountability Training Workshop organised by CHRA in partnership with Kwekwe United Residents Association (KURA) at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kwekwe.
Murambiwa said there was a need for a united approach among residents associations in addressing social service delivery challenges affecting communities.
She said residents had raised concerns over the City of Kwekwe’s budget consultation processes, arguing that community views were not adequately considered during budget formulation.
“The main issue that came out from the interaction is that the city council or the Municipality of Kwekwe has not been responsive enough when it comes to the budget processes and procedures in terms of consulting residents,” she said.
Murambiwa said residents felt that consultations conducted by the local authority were not effectively addressing their concerns.
“The main issue was that Kwekwe City Council just come to residents for cosmetic budget consultations. They really don’t take their issues into consideration during the budget formulation processes,” she said.
She said residents associations, including KURA and Kwekwe Residents and Ratepayers Association, needed to collaborate to effectively advocate for better municipal services.
“There is a need for them to be united, for them to be able to hold the Municipality of Kwekwe accountable effectively. They must not be fragmented as it stands right now,” Murambiwa said.
KURA convenor Nkosilathi Moyo said the training had equipped residents with knowledge and tools to engage local authorities and demand accountability.
“We have been empowered with social accountability tools and skills, how we can engage and make our duty bearers, particularly our local authority, accountable, focusing much on improving service delivery,” Moyo said.
He said the workshop had strengthened residents’ capacity to work with the local authority while ensuring that community concerns were addressed.
Moyo added that residents had gained skills to improve communication with duty bearers and promote public accountability.
The engagement brought together residents associations and community members as part of efforts to strengthen citizen participation in local governance and service delivery matters.
