Focus on water, roads, disabled people, Government told

Rutendo Nyeve , Sunday News Reporter 

THE rehabilitation of feeder roads to Bulawayo, improved water supply, capacitation of National Social Security Authority (Nssa) to cushion pensioners as well as investing in disability friendly infrastructure are some of the key priority areas raised by people in the southern region during the just ended 2023 National Budget public consultations.

Sunday News followed some of the meetings conducted by the teams very closely and observed some common suggestions in the priority areas that the people say the budget should focus on. The water issue was a top priority with the public expressing no reservations in its importance saying the communities need access to it.

“The first thing that I expect the 2023 budget to focus on is the water issue in Bulawayo. For the past years we have been facing serious water challenges, as I speak our taps are dry. We have been pleading for more funding to address the water problems. The budget must be clear on the National Zambezi Water Project from where the Gwayi-Shangani Dam is a component as it remains our final hope.

“On the pensioners side, it is clear that someone who has worked for a very long time in our country lost quite a lot due to the economic challenges we witnessed over the past years. While we can say a lot of stories about that, the truth of the matter is we are making a strong appeal that this budget takes good care of pensioners. Nssa is one investment that we only looked up to as pensioners and it is our only hope because most of the insurance policies collapsed and died a natural death hence the only institution that remained is Nssa. We appeal that in the national fiscus, Nssa be cushioned so that it in turn cushions its beneficiaries. That’s one strong request that we are making as pensioners,” said Mr Winos Dube.

The issue of the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road was also discussed with the public feeling that it should be prioritised in the allocation of finances from the National Budget. Ms Petronella Mguni spoke emotionally saying the Government should make sure that the road was complete.

“I am in pain with regards to the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road. The pain that we feel is that we have lost a lot of our loved ones. Mothers from giving birth in Nkayi perish together with their children. Couldn’t the budget prioritise Nkayi Road which has killed a lot of people? I am not sure if authorities know that we use a small strip. We feel left out in terms of development of road infrastructure,” said Ms Mguni.

The need for Government to prioritise and alleviate the plight of the disabled could not be left out. 

“We think it will be helpful for the budget to allocate money for allowances that will be given to the disabled so that their livelihoods are improved. When we are talking about poverty, disabled people are the most vulnerable. These allowances should consider the poverty datum line. Our life as people with disabilities is quite expensive,” said Ms Sipho Majole who is living with a disability.”

One of the team leaders of the parliamentary committees that went countrywide, Brigadier-General (Rtd) Levi Mayihlome applauded people in Matabeleland for standing up and participating in the processes. 

“The budget consultations got an overwhelming response from different sectors of society; people with disabilities, the youths, pensioners and ordinary residents and villagers from communities. I think the contributions mainly centred on people  with disabilities. It really stole the limelight. There were calls for the Government to cater for people  with disabilities, some even proposed 15 percent of the budget to cater for those. The suitability of facilities, housing and public utilities which should be addressed very quickly. 

“The youths feel Government needs to have adequate funding for the youth empowerment programmes. It seems we have not really done enough to address the plight of the youths. Then we have pensioners. These are issues we cannot ignore, they worked all their lives and they spoke passionately about what really needs to be done, with some proposing figures of a minimum of US$60 which I think is reasonable,” said Brig-Gen (Rtd) Mayihlome. 

He said there was also the issue of water, that Bulawayo had been crying about for close to 100 years. 

“We were also delighted by the participation of children, at Maphisa, we had pupils from Minda High School and in Bulawayo, Junior MPs and senators also came and gave their presentations.”

He said he was delighted that the rural folk understood the intricate nature of budget processes as they proved that they know the things that they expect Government to priorities, particularly issues around social services and infrastructural development – @nyeve14