Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
CONCERNS have been raised in Victoria Falls over alleged harassment of residential and commercial stand applicants, amid claims that some civic activists have been demanding access to confidential information held by the local authority. Three leaders of Vic Falls consortium (names withheld) are said to be taking law in their own hands.
The allegations have also raised questions over the protection of personal information submitted by residents applying for stands through the City of Victoria Falls.
Some council employees and residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that members of a local residents’ association had been approaching council offices, including the housing section, seeking details relating to stand applicants.
The allegations could be independently verified, and there evidence establishing that an individual unlawfully obtained, disclosed or misused applicants’ personal information after sharing an alleged private stand number online.
However, residents who raised the concerns said information contained in stand applications should be handled strictly in accordance with council procedures and the law.
They said residents’ associations had an important role to play in promoting accountability and monitoring service delivery, but this should not extend to allegedly intimidating council employees or individual residents seeking municipal services.
The concerns come amid reports that some civic activists have been increasingly confronting council officials and demanding information as part of what they describe as efforts to expose corruption.
Residents said allegations of corruption should instead be reported to competent authorities, including the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), for investigation.
They argued that civic organisations could assist in identifying and reporting suspected wrongdoing, but should not take the law into their own hands or conduct what could amount to parallel investigations.
The issue of access to information relating to stand applicants is particularly sensitive because such applications may contain personal details of high profiled political individuals which require appropriate protection.
Zimbabwe’s data protection framework provides safeguards concerning the collection, processing, storage and disclosure of personal information, placing obligations on organisations and institutions handling such data.
Residents have consequently called on the City of Victoria Falls management and councillors to ensure that requests for information from civic organisations are dealt with through established procedures, while protecting the privacy of residents.
There have also been allegations of the use of tribal and ethnic sentiments in discussions surrounding the allocation of residential stands, including claims that some applicants have allegedly been targeted because of their ethnic or linguistic backgrounds.
These allegations have not been independently verified and should not be treated as established facts.
Residents who spoke on the matter said Victoria Falls was a cosmopolitan tourism centre whose continued development depended on equal treatment of residents, social cohesion and respect for the law.
They warned that ethnic divisions should not be allowed to undermine efforts to improve service delivery and accountability in the resort city.
Residents’ associations have historically played an important role in engaging local authorities over service delivery, land administration and governance issues.
Stakeholders said such oversight remained important, but should be conducted responsibly and through recognised legal and administrative channels.
They called on the local authority to establish clear guidelines on the type of information that residents’ associations can access, particularly where such requests involve personal details of individual applicants.
The stakeholders also urged council employees and residents who believe they have been subjected to harassment or intimidation to report such incidents to the relevant authorities.
At the same time, civic organisations were encouraged to continue raising legitimate concerns over suspected corruption, but to submit evidence to the appropriate investigative institutions rather than confronting individuals or attempting to independently determine guilt.
The allegations of harassment, intimidation, unlawful access to personal information, extortion and tribal discrimination remain allegations and have not been established by a competent authority.
