Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
Ward 33 residents on Saturday raised concerns over water shortages, sewer blockages, poor roads and revenue collection during the ward’s pre-budget consultative meeting.
Ward 33 Budiriro South Councillor Emmanuel Dzinomurumbi said the City of Harare’s revenue collection efficiency in the ward stood at 36 percent.
He said residents also raised concerns over the installation of prepaid water meters, saying some households were now paying for water while struggling to settle their rates.
Cllr Dzinomurumbi said residents questioned the installation of prepaid water meters in areas that had gone for years without a reliable water supply.
“Residents were wondering why council installed prepaid water meters when there is no water,” he said.
He said some areas had gone for as long as 15 years without water.
Residents also raised concerns over sewer blockages and called on council to attend to faulty sewer pipes and replace old water pipes.
Cllr Dzinomurumbi said the council’s roads department had assured residents that it would attend to roads in the ward.
On waste management, he said residents commended Geo Pomona Waste Management for consistently collecting refuse in the area.
Cllr Dzinomurumbi said residents also called for the creation of more revenue streams for the city and greater transparency on the council’s performance.
He said residents further called for the revival of the 25 percent ward retention fund to enable wards to finance priority service-delivery projects.
