The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Municipal Reporter
VARIOUS wards have started benefiting from the ward retention fund with projects identified by councillors and residents now at various stages after the Bulawayo City Council set aside over $1,6 million for the fund.
The fund was mooted in the 2015 budget outreach programme where council committed to funding projects that were decided by the wards under the leadership of their elected councillors. Funding for the projects was to be tied to what each ward contributed to council’s coffers.
The receipts into the fund are three percent of all cash received from payment of services billed to ward residents.
Responding to written questions, the local authority’s senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said they had since started disbursing the fund within wards, with identified projects already being implemented.
“The purpose of the fund is to encourage residents to pay their bills. As projects are currently ongoing the total amounts spent on projects has not been finalised,” said Mrs Mpofu.
According to a council report the ward which got the highest figure is ward one with $327 502. The ward encompasses the city centre as bounded by Masotsha Avenue, Robert Mugabe Way, First Avenue, Samuel Parirenyatwa Street, Railway Avenue, Basch Street and back to Masotsha Avenue. The ward is under the jurisdiction of the youngest councillor within the local authority, Clr Mlandu Ncube.
Ward 15, which is under Clr Tamani Moyo got the least amount of $14 897. The ward encompasses Enqotsheni, Old Luveve, New Luveve and Luveve industries.
In a schedule, of projects commenced, provided by Mrs Mpofu, ward one has started working on landscaping, fencing and painting Jabulani Flats and also the replacement of pavement blocks in the central business district.
In ward four they have advertised for a tender to provide street lighting in ward projects which have commenced under the fund include; the installation of three tower lights at Newton West, servicing of existing tower lights at Barham Green, servicing of four existing tower lights Sidojiwe, refurbishment of Bellevue Recreational Club and establishing factory shells at Inkunzi Beer Garden.
Ward eight has started renovations of Macdonald Hall in Mzilikazi, fencing and establishing a refuse pick-up point at Burombo Hostels and the rehabilitation of Nguboyenja Mthwakazi Youth Centre while in ward nine rehabilitation of Mpopoma Swimming Pool has started.
In ward 12 projects to be embarked on include; the construction of a ramp for the disabled at Njube Hall, refurbishment of Njube Hall, construction of a hall in Old Lobengula, construction of toilets and the refurbishment of Njube Library.
In ward 14 the fund is being used to refurbish Lobengula Shopping Centre (Whatever Sports Bar), Masunda Shopping Centre (Choppies) and Konron Shopping Centre while in ward 15 it will be used for the refurbishment of Luveve Swimming.
In ward 28 the fund will be used for the construction of a clinic while in ward 25 it will be used for the purchase of furniture and equipment for primary schools and provision of Internet services for libraries.
Wards which are yet to submit their projects for funding are wards two, three, five, seven, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 21 and 23.
