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Bulawayo Ward Five Councillor, Clr Dumisani Nkomo has embarked on an ambitious project to repair 1 000 street-lights using the Ward Retention Fund from the city council.
Clr Nkomo said 100 lights have been repaired so far, adding that the Ward Development Committee will soon formulate a ward development strategic plan.
“We are targeting to repair 1,000 street-lights under the Ward Retention Fund. Already about 100 lights have been repaired. There have been positive responses from the corporate sector and individuals in terms of fixing another 1 000 lights. In the next phase, we would encourage replacing conventional lights with solar lights. The councillor and the ward development committee will soon be engaged in more structured engagement with the corporate sector to scale up public lighting well beyond 1 000 lights,” he said.
He said the Ward Development Committee in consultation with residents was expected to formulate a ward development strategic plan with a budget.
“This is to facilitate a pro-active rather than reactive approach to development and service delivery. Each suburb in the ward will also formulate its development strategic plan. These plans will span for four years but annual reviews involving residents will be done. The Ward Committee has endorsed the imperative of residents’ association committees having fresh elections in areas where there have been no elections for four years and above,” he said.
Clr Nkomo said there was a need for ring-fenced financing for Ward Five from alternative revenue streams.
“As long as we depend on traditional sources we will be unable to cultivate sustainable development and service delivery for bigger service delivery imperatives such as road repairs. The councillor’s office is exploring the following alternative revenue generation streams. Climate finance, which can be accessed through local initiatives which demonstrate a reduction in carbon emissions such as solar street lighting, waste segregation, tree planting and initiatives which encourage walking and cycling. The Government will soon be putting in place an Environmental Management Bill which creates a framework for claiming carbon credits and accessing climate funding which is a global instrument.”
Online Reporter