adminMashudu Mambo
Zimbabwe Union of Residents and Ratepayers Association (ZURRA) has slammed parties who claim that the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BUPRA) is a member of an unknown body that masquerades as the national umbrella of all residents’ associations and trusts in Zimbabwe.
ZURRA is an umbrella body of 63 residents’ associations in Zimbabwe. The association released a statement on 12 July to address the claims targeted at BPRA.
“ZURRA wishes to refute false claims that BPRA or any of our members are part of a largely unknown organisation claiming to represent all residents’ associations and trusts in Zimbabwe. BPRA is one of the founding members of ZURRA, a pro-democracy, non-partisan, and membership-driven organisation. They are not in any way linked to any other residents’ association purporting and masquerading as a national umbrella body of residents’ associations,” read the statement.
ZURRA stated that the allegations are being purported by people with a goal to tarnish the name of the residents’ association.
“We want to make it very clear that such levels of dishonesty and unprofessionalism are not only aimed at tarnishing the image of our member BPRA but also show the level of desperation for legitimacy within the civic space by some fly-by-night organisations. This violates section 58(1) and (2) of the constitution on freedom of association, which protect persons from being compelled to belong to an association or body they are not interested in being part of,” read the statement.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo