The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube Sunday News Reporter
AS one stands at the lovely Large City Hall marvelling at the majestic white walls, the historic fountain just opposite the hall’s office and the green grass surrounding it produce a welcoming breeze. Just next to the City Hall, hawkers sit with their crafts and flowers while waiting for tourists and other buyers. One can never miss the jovial mood among the citizens, with every once in a while someone either gesturing in greeting or giving out a soft smile.
Walking around the city, one cannot mistake the Victorian era designed buildings and a number of other new buildings dotted around the city. Some of these buildings that have become more of landmarks in the city include, the National Art Gallery in Bulawayo, Bulawayo Centre, Old Post Office Building, Tredgold Building and the High Court of Zimbabwe building.
As part of the scenery, a number of vendors proudly display their wares on the pavements. Although this has been declared illegal by the Bulawayo City Council, it is a scene that brings a smile to anyone who lived during the colonial era when blacks were not allowed in the city centre.
As one continues their journey to the ever abuzz Egodini bus terminus, which has since been turned into a commuter omnibus rank, the place is crowded, touts shouting the destinations of various kombis.
Some of these destinations include Cowdray Park, Nkulumane, Pumula South and Emganwini. To someone new in the city these can be dismissed as any other suburb in the city but to those who know the ins and outs of the city, these are suburbs which before 1980 were not on the map of Bulawayo.
18 April 1980 is a day that will forever go down in history as the day our beloved Zimbabwe got its hard-earned independence. A day that signified the downing of arms meant to fight for self-rule. A day that saw Zimbabweans heave a sigh of relief and boldly declare that the country could now boast that black majority rule had finally arrived.
As the Union Jack was downed and replaced by the colourful Zimbabwean flag, this would signify the start of a journey, the first footsteps of independent Zimbabwe.
For Bulawayo — the second largest city in the country — this was also the start of a new journey.
This was a city, which by then was regarded as the country’s industrial hub as it was the centre for mining, ranching and industrial activity, with many heavy industrials located in the city, hence the name koNtuthuziyathunqa. The city was a gateway to southern Africa — linking the north and south through a rail and road network.
Bulawayo attained the status of being a city in 1943.
With quite a number of its buildings designed and built during the colonial era, most businesses being run by whites and a heavy divide in the schools and health sector, all eyes were on the city to see where it was headed in the next few years.
Last year the city celebrated its 120th anniversary and recently joined the rest of the country in celebrating 35 years of self-rule.
This is a city which in 1980 did not have a single black councillor, only getting its first elected black mayor in 1981, this being Zanu-PF central committee member Cde Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu.
Prior to 1980, the City was run under a two-city concept and there was segregation, with black townships run by the Native Advisory Board. The election of the first Native Advisory Board was in August 1941. In June 1961 Bulawayo City proposed direct African representation in Council. These efforts were prevented by the Rhodesian Front Government. It was in 1968 that the Township Advisory Board was appointed, allowing for African representation and involvement in city affairs.
The city was then managed under this two-city concept based along racial lines.
“In 1979 racial segregation of residential areas was lifted. Before independence blacks resided in the Western areas in rented accommodation, while the whites resided in the Eastern suburbs, where they had ownership of their properties (title deeds).
“After independence, council converted most of the rented accommodation to ownership. Currently, residents have a choice of where they reside according to their preference and affordability and the city now operates under one-city concept with no segregation. Council has also improved the health standards of its residents by building more clinics, while education has been boosted by the building of more primary schools,” said the Bulawayo City Council senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu.
According to figures provided by the local authority, the city has grown to have 146 000 housing units in 150 suburbs.
In 1980, the local authority did not own any schools. The first school it established was Mawaba Primary School in New Lobengula in 1986 and to date, it now has 29 primary schools.
The local authority now has a primary school in all 29 wards.
In the health services sector, the local authority revealed that in addition to the Government hospitals, in 1980 it had 15 council clinics and a single council hospital of which they have increased the number of council clinics to 21.
Mrs Mpofu said a population growth rate of two percent a year was a middle of the road growth scenario for the city, hence the local authority was envisaging significant development especially in the high-density suburbs.
“Increased rural to urban migration has resulted in increased demand in health, education and housing. Growth has not matched infrastructural development because of the current environment such as inadequate funds for housing and other capital projects. The existing infrastructure is old and in some instances obsolete and needs rehabilitation and replacement, for example water and sewer treatment works need upgrading and repairs to match population growth. Economic development remains a critical challenge to facilitate improved livelihoods,” she said.
She said council continued to engage private and public partnerships for funding and Government remained a critical partner in the attainment of a bright and prosperous Bulawayo.
Bulawayo provincial education director Mr Dan Moyo said the city had made great strides in the education sector which had seen the establishment of a number of both primary and secondary schools and also with the rising population, a significant increase in enrolment.
“The education sector has made great strides since we attained our independence. I can tell you that we had quite a few primary schools in the city but now we have added the likes of Emakhandeni, Amaveni, Cowdray Park to mention but a few.
“As for secondary schools in the western areas we just had Ihlathi, Msiteli, Sizane, Mpopoma, Luveve and Mzilikazi high schools. The rest of the secondary schools in the western suburbs were established during the course of these past 35 years,” said Mr Moyo.
In terms of enrolment, Mr Moyo revealed that in the primary schools they were now enrolling over 116 000 up from just less than 20 000 in 1980 while in secondary schools, after independence the enrolment was pegged at just 10 000 but had since increased to 55 000.
“These past 35 years have been years where we can sit back as a city and marvel at our achievements, especially in the education sector. We have seen a scenario where we have increased the number of schools especially in the western areas so as to ensure that the greatest possible number of our people get access to basic education.
“Despite the challenges we have faced here and there I must commend all the people within the system who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the sector remains afloat and all our children have access to it in the city,” said Mr Moyo.
He said as the city continued to grow with new suburbs being established they envisaged a scenario where every suburb gets both a primary and secondary school.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo said as a city this was an important celebration as it would see the city reflecting on the journey it had travelled since the attainment of independence and come together to tackle all the challenges ahead.
“Yes, there might be challenges but as we celebrate the country’s birthday this is the time that we have to look back where we are coming from, hold hands and move forward as a unit. If you think back this was a city where racial segregation was rife but we now are free to do as we will, we can walk on any street and get into any building without being rebuked.
“This is a very important year for us because despite all the challenges we have indeed grown but now we have to face our challenges head on and work at resolving whatever obstacle might be there,” said Cde Moyo.
