adminIn an interview on Sunday, BPRA co-ordinator Mr Roderick Fayayo said the training was aimed at inculcating a culture of participation within residents.
“In most cases residents are left out on issues that affect them, especially with regards to local governance and policy making, so this training is meant to capacitate them,” said Mr Fayayo.
He said the residents were not aware of their role in policy formulation and the training was one tool to make them appreciate their roles as citizens.
“They need to advocate better service delivery if need be, but if they do not know what they should do the risk is that they would suffer in silence,” said Mr Fayayo.
He said the training would be spread to all Bulawayo’s 29 wards.
“At the moment we are training ward leaders as well as opinion leaders so that they can disseminate the information to the people,” said Mr Fayayo.
“The training is meant to make residents understand better ways of existing with the environment as well, as the country is facing challenges linked to global warming,” said Mr Fayayo.
He said in some cases residents harmed the environment out of ignorance.
“For instance some of them don’t know that burning cabbage is harmful to the environment as well as against the city council’s by-laws,” said Mr Fayayo.
He said the training was part of their Residents Leadership Development Programme, which trained leaders in the wards in a bid to capacitate them to participate in issues of local governance and service delivery.
“If community leaders understand their significance in policy formulation then it means it is easier for them to advocate for issues that affect the people at grassroots level,” said Mr Fayayo.
Online Reporter