The Sunday News
THE Government has ordered all local authorities to urgently address the issue of street-lights, further giving them an ultimatum to have lit at least 80 percent of their towns and cities by the end of the year.
According to Bulawayo City Council officials, the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing summoned 16 local authorities to Harare where they were ordered to urgently address the issue of street-lights within their jurisdiction.
The 16 local authorities that were summoned include; Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare, Kwekwe, Masvingo, Kadoma, Chitungwiza, Marondera, Bindura, Gwanda, Chinhoyi, Redcliff, Victoria Falls, Rusape and Lupane.
Each local authority was represented by their mayors or council chairpersons, town clerks or secretaries and their directors of engineering services.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister, Dr Ignatius Chombo and Energy and Power Development Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire also attended the meeting.
“It was basically a meeting meant to address the issue of street lighting, noting that most of the street lighting infrastructure is very much lagging behind and needs to be attended to, especially in cities and town centres. We were essentially told that by end of year we should have at least reached 80 percent compliance in terms of street lighting. We, however, also told them our side of the story, where we outlined the problems we are facing as local authorities,” said the council source.
Contacted for comment, Dr Chombo confirmed the meeting, noting that street lighting was an important part of any society as it not only adds to the physical outlook but is also a security measure.
“The reason we engaged Minister Mavhaire was to ensure that they also have a say in the matter noting that while the councils are the ones that manage street lighting, electricity falls under the jurisdiction of his ministry,” said Dr Chombo.
He, however, declined to comment on the deadline that the councils had been given to have addressed the matter.
Minister Mavhaire on the other hand said the meeting was done on a consultative level where various local authorities noted the problems they were facing in terms of addressing the problem of street lighting and also the two ministries taking note of how best they could assist in addressing the matter.
“We were not really giving them an ultimatum but it was more of a round-table discussion where we exchanged notes on what they were doing on the matter and what problems they were facing to resolve this matter.
“This was a consultative meeting and we are strongly of the view that there will be some movement within these councils so that come end of year, there will be some changes,” he said.
