Siyephambili: A tour of Bulawayo in 12 months

Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor 

TODAY marks the beginning of a New Year, with it comes new beginning, new challenges and new goals to be set.

In addition to all the festivity to ring in the New Year, it’s also a great time to reflect on all that 2022 brought and all the new beginnings 2023 will usher in. However, one of the key challenges as we begin this journey is best summed up by the words of famed scientist, Albert Einstein who notes that; “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

Same as any other individual or organisation, Zimbabwe’s second largest city enters 2023 having endured a lot of challenges, victories and unfortunately an equal number of losses which keep on haunting the city.

As Sunday News and our sister paper Chronicle reporters were on the ground to capture some of these major occurrences in the past 12 months, and as a means of reflecting on the 12-month journey ahead, we look at some of these major events in the past 12 months.

January 2022 starts with 

Bulawayo in mourning

#RIP Simela Dube — The ever-smiling engineer 

The then former Bulawayo City Council director of engineering services who passed away on 30 January 2021 was buried at the Lady Stanley Cemetery on 4 February 2022. This was the man who came up with the famous, award-winning, Big Flush, at the height of the city’s water woes, this is the man who was at the centre of things working on various water and sewer projects in the city, under the Bulawayo Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (BWSSIP).

He is also the man who spearheaded the establishment of the first-ever call centre within a local authority, another award-winning concept. As if his achievements were not enough, Eng Dube led the development of the first Water and Waste Water Masterplan in the country, and the setting up of the City of Bulawayo Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and the development of the City of Bulawayo Road Condition Survey, among his many accomplishments.

This is the man who endured all sorts of insults from residents, when the city’s water crisis was at its worst, with the local authority having been forced to effect a 144 hour water shedding schedule, instead he remained resolute and forward-looking, striving to identify a solution to the perennial water woes. A man who left South Africa to come and toil for the local authority as the director of engineering services at a time when most engineers in the country were leaving the country for greener pastures.

A true luminary in the City!

Govt rejects Bulawayo’s 2022 budget

The beginning of many blunders by the local authority. The budget was rejected on the basis of allocating a huge chunk — 44 percent — to salaries against the Government stipulated 30 percent, among other reasons. Council had come up with a budget that would have seen some households paying an average of $12  000 per month (steep then) before factoring in water charges as the local authority targeted to introduce various fee increases ranging between 155 percent and 687 percent.

The Egodini fiasco continues

THE back and forth tussle between the Bulawayo City Council and South African civil engineering firm Terracotta Trading Private Limited continued as they claimed its original set timelines, for the Egodini Bus Terminus rehabilitation project was four months behind and they were now working round the clock so that the project gets back on track.

Govt commits to Bulawayo 

Industry resuscitation

 The Ministry of Industry and Commerce reported that they were stepping up efforts to ensure the resuscitation of industries in Bulawayo, in a bid to restore its industrial hub status. The ministry was on a four-day fact-finding tour of Bulawayo industries as part of its programme of reviving the industrial sector in the city.

In an interview after touring Mealies Brand (formerly Zimplow) and Machtec Engineering and Supplies on Tuesday, Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Raj Modi said the tour was part of Government’s efforts to resuscitate industries.

Bulawayo smart city sites identified, Cowdray to get new flats, courts

The month arguably belonged to Cowdray Park as not only was it identified as one of the sites for a smart city in Bulawayo but it saw them get land for the construction of new flats and magistrates courts. The suburb and the former Ascot Racecourse in Bulawayo were identified as potential sites for the construction of smart cities, with a feasibility study already being embarked on. 

President Mnangagwa has constantly emphasised the need for the country to implement the smart city concept in line with the recently launched climate policy.

BCC also identified more land that will see the development of flats in the suburb and more residential stands in other areas in a bid to augment housing delivery in the city.

Further the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) announced plans to establish new magistrates’ courts in Emganwini and Cowdray Park suburbs as they move towards decentralising the justice system and ensuring their key strategic plan of justice for all. The construction of a 60-bed hospital in Cowdray Park was also announced to commence in April, a move that was viewed to boost the suburb’s health care provision. 

TTI commences its parking 

management in the city

To many motorists February was the month best remembered for the commencement of the parking management system project being implemented in Build Operate and Transfer partnership between BCC and Tendy Three Investments. The parking system was met with rage from motorists and residents who argued that the charges were exorbitant.

March 2022: Of forex madness, 

raw sewer, decentralisation

Residents of Makokoba in Bulawayo revealed that since the beginning of the year they have been forced to endure raw sewage flowing into their houses, a recipe for an outbreak of diseases. They said sewage had become part of their lives as it was flowing into their houses, posing a threat to their health and affecting livelihoods.

The forex madness starts: Council demands forex for payment of repossessed stands

Cowdray Park residents who had their stands repossessed by the Bulawayo City Council after they failed to develop them were up in arms with the local authority after the latter demanded that they re-purchase them in foreign currency. The former property owners were given two weeks to have paid the US$2  200 deposits.

E-passport processing comes to Bulawayo

In a major milestone, the Government announced that the processing of e-passports will soon commence in Bulawayo as the Government worked to decentralise the issuing of travelling documents. By the close of the year this process has also spread to Beitbridge District Registry, Hwange District Registry, Lupane Provincial Registry, Gweru Provincial Registry, Chitungwiza District Registry, Murewa District Registry, Marondera Provincial Registry and Chinhoyi Provincial Registry.

April 2022: The month Byo broke ‘tradition’ as nation is counted

The Independence Day celebrations come to Byo: “For the first time in the history of our 42 years of Independence, we mark this sacred day away from Harare, our capital city. The commemorative festivities will be held in Bulawayo, our second largest capital. This is much more than a mere change of venue and geography. It is a profound statement on collective ownership of the day. We all share it as Zimbabweans, regardless of village, town, city, district or province,” said President Mnangagwa in announcing that for first time the Independence Day celebrations will be held in Bulawayo.

The ushering in of the New Dispensation led by President Mnangagwa brought with it a transformation in the way things were done and for the first time in 42 years, the Independence Day celebrations were moved from Harare to Bulawayo. 

That the celebrations were held in Bulawayo was part of the basis of devolution and a fulfilment of the decentralisation drive anchored on unity and inclusive development. Just a week after this historic event, the city was to cap the month with the country’s biggest trading event, the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).

Bulawayo joins the rest of the country, as the nation is counted

The 2022 population and housing census kicked off on 21 April with the counting of President Mnangagwa at State House amid calls for Zimbabweans to co-operate as the exercise was beneficial to the country. The exercise ran until the end of the month.

Yeye! #RIP Clive Chigubu 

However, the month was going to end on a sad note as the city was once again in mourning as it lost one of its prolific entertainers, comedian Clive “Yeye” Chigubu. Chigubu passed away on 27 April, after succumbing to Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a type of cancer that had left him bed ridden for some time.

However, the local authority was to quote the ire of residents when BCC claimed that the arts are not part of groups that are afforded burial in prominent and distinguished pioneer residents’ cemeteries, after comedian Chigubu was denied the honour of being laid to rest at Lady Stanley Cemetery.

May 2022: Of Bosso, development 

and the loss of Mbokodo

Disgraceful! Biggest matchup in Zim reduced to hooliganism: Well it was Bosso and Dembare AGAIN. 

The match was abandoned with Bosso leading 1-0 at Barbourfields stadium. Dynamos fans invaded the pitch in the 92nd minute after Highlanders had taken the lead after Washington Navaya nodded a cross home from close range. DeMbare players mobbed the referee protesting that Shadreck Nyahwa was fouled in the process.

Dynamos fans tore the nets and attempted to uproot the goalposts. The fence barricade was also damaged in the process. BCC later announced that the damage cost the local authority US$4 312,67 in repairs.

New Bulawayo PED speaks tough…‘Days of chaos in high schools are over’

The month also saw the birth of a new era in the education sector in Bulawayo, with a new Sheriff in town, as Mrs Jane Ndebele took over as the new acting Bulawayo Provincial Education Director. In an interview with Sunday News, Mrs Ndebele said she was aiming at sanitising the education sector in Bulawayo and ensuring schools improve their pass rates.

“I am passionate about perfection and orderliness. I am passionate about children, I like them a lot and anyone who does not deal with children in a well and acceptable manner, I do not tolerate.”

Fare thee well Mdala Mbokodo

The month also saw the city lose another luminary in the form of Mbokodo Abattoir owner and prominent businessman Noel Eric York. Mr York a colourful figure, who was popularly known as Mbokodo or Boet to family and friends died at the age of 72, at his home in Burnside suburb after a long battle with cancer.

June 2022: Bulawayo gets a Mourinho touch

Probably the biggest news of the month was that of Highlanders Football Club hiring former Chelsea assistant coach Baltermar Brito of Portugal as their new coach. Brito will be in charge of the team until the end of 2023. 

BCC starts to charge tariffs in USD

Bulawayo residents in May started being charged tariffs in foreign currency with the local authority saying the then charges had been rendered inadequate by the prevailing economic conditions. In a statement, the Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube said with the bills now stated in the United States dollars, residents would be able to pay in the local currency value as per the prevailing rate on the date of billing.

July 2022: The Chevrons have a dance in Byo

Bulawayo hosted the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 and boy was it a movie!  Thousands of spectators thronged  Queens Sports Club and Harare Sports Club to witness Zimbabwe’s matches in that tournament.

Zimbabwe had to book a ticket to Australia via the qualifiers recently held in Bulawayo. The Craig Ervine-led side won all the five matches, with all of Zimbabwe’s encounters well attended. Netherlands captain Scott Edwards believes the Zimbabwean cricket fans are up there with the best in the world. He compared them to England’s Barmy Army, which is considered the best cricket supporting group globally.

Perennial water shortages: The curse of Byo

The water nightmare in the city continued as the city introduced water cuts of up to 72 hours a week. The local authority put the blame to various issues like power cuts and leakages along the system among many but there is one thing for certain, Bulawayo needs water. Noting this crisis, President Mnangagwa has committed to bring a finality to this issue with an increased pace in the construction of Lake Gwayi-Shangani and the Gwayi-Shangani-Bulawayo pipeline. The project, which is now 69 percent complete, is viewed as the solution to Bulawayo and the region’s perennial water problems.

August 2022: Umkhulu lomsebenzi

#RIPCont: Kung Fu master who became an arts guru: On Monday 1 August the nation woke up to the news that arts doyen, Cont Mhlanga had passed away. For a man who spent the best part of the last three decades in the spotlight, precious little was known of Continueloving Mhlanga’s personal life. Sure, his professional life is familiar enough.

As the founder of Amakhosi, he was the man who had almost single-handedly shaped Bulawayo’s arts and culture scene. He was the gift that kept on giving, the gift that gave his nation Stitsha, that rare triumph of creative writing and production that was able to attain success both on stage and on the small screen.

September 2022: As the world mourns the Queen, Byo’s water crisis deepens

Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s longest-serving monarch, died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change. With her death, her eldest son Charles, the former Prince of Wales, now leads the country as the new King and head of state for 14 Commonwealth realms. 

Bulawayo is hit by a diarrhoea outbreak, Half of Bulawayo schools operate without water

A vicious diarrhoea outbreak hit Bulawayo suburbs in the month of September with more than 1 000 cases recorded. Cases were first recorded in the city’s Ward 17 in Pumula suburb in July, but the outbreak spread across the city. The situation was further exacerbated as it emerged that more than half of Bulawayo’s schools were operating without water after council disconnected supplies due to non-payment of rates, amid reports that they owe council a combined $100 million while those connected are having to make do with intermittent supplies owing to water shedding.

October 2022: The month the tourism world focused on Byo

Bulawayo once again hosted the 15th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo with local and foreign exhibitors saying they were upbeat about business opportunities generated at the showcase as it exposed them to quality networking and partnership synergies. Exhibitors were drawn from the hospitality, travel, transport and conservation industry subsectors. It provided stakeholders a platform to engage in productive discussions for the creation of an enabling environment for the growth and development of the mining industry, in particular.

Armed robbers hit three How Mine CIT vehicles…escape with US$450 000 worth of gold

The ugly side of armed robbery continued to show in the city after three private security company Cash-In-Transit (CIT) vehicles which were carrying gold from How Mine were ambushed by armed robbers about 10 kilometres from the mine. Witnesses said the armed robbers were using three vehicles, a Toyota GD6, a Nissan March and Nissan Hard body single cab. The CIT vehicles were carrying gold worth US$450 000, which was destined for Fidelity Printers. The mine is about 22 km from Bulawayo. To date three of the armed robbery suspects have been arrested while another is said to have succumbed to injuries sustained during the robbery in South Africa.

Bulawayo fertility rate lowest in the country

Bulawayo Metropolitan Province was flagged as having the lowest fertility rate in the country while Mashonaland Central has the highest. The 2022 Population and Housing Census collected data on fertility and found that at national level, the general fertility rate was 114 live births per 1 000 women. Mashonaland Central had highest general fertility rates at 137 live births per 1 000 women; and Bulawayo, with 73 live births per 1 000 women, had the lowest general fertility rate.

November 2022: Byo comes of age

On 6 November, the city held its annual civic service to celebrate the 79th anniversary of the declaration of Bulawayo as a City. The service was held at the church which is attended by the Mayor Councillor Solomon Mguni, Celebration Church. Bulawayo was declared a City on 4 November 1943 and every year, a Civic Service to commemorate and celebrate the declaration of Bulawayo as a City is held on a Sunday near the 4th of November.

Bulawayo residents stage protects against poor service delivery

Still on this month residents staged a demonstration against BCC protesting the poor service delivery in the city.

Residents from all the city’s 29 wards converged on the Large City Hall carrying placards bemoaning the deteriorating service delivery standards. Among the issues that were raised by the residents were the state of the city’s roads, the high bills and also accused the local authority of not consulting residents during the budget making process.

Police arrest 39 school kids at Vuzu party

On a sad note, Police in Bulawayo arrested 39 students from various schools and colleges after they raided a house in Kumalo where the youths were enjoying a Vuzu party. They recovered alcohol, cigarettes and cigarettes stubs, used and unused condoms. National police spokesperson Asst Comm Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest but could not shed more light, saying investigations were underway. 

December 2022: Motorists cry foul

Motorists and residents from Bulawayo expressed concern over the poor state of roads including in the Central Business District (CBD), which they say are damaging vehicles and increasing the cost of repairs while exposing them to risks of accidents. The onset of the rainy season laid bare the dilapidated city’s road network with most of the roads being littered with potholes.

BCC dismisses claims that their bills are high

Despite a public outcry BCC insisted that their bills were normal and are based on the cost of providing services amid complaints of over-billing from residents. Residents have accused the local authority of over-billing them and it culminated in a demonstration that was organised by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association recently. They claimed the high bills started as the council moves to index all bills in foreign currency and insisted that the bills were unjustifiably too high compared to the poor service delivered.

Responding to questions from Sunday News, BCC corporate communi-cations manager, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said when considering the real value of the bills, their charges were normal.

ROIL BAAs light up Byo once again

The year closed with the city once again hosting the ROIL Bulawayo Arts Awards. An events of glitz and glamour meant to celebrate the achievements of the arts industry in the region. The ceremony saw acclaimed rapper and musician, Msiz’kay walking away with the most prestigious award of the night, the People’s Choice award, which saw him walking away with a fully-serviced residential stand.

As the city starts a new year, the best inspirational words can be drawn from Theodore Roosevelt when he said “We need to keep our faces steadily toward the sun. You can change the smile, to keep our eyes to the stars, but remember that our feet have got to be on the ground.”

And as the city’s tagline goes; Siyephambili, let us move forward!.