- Dear Family and Friends,
-
- The last time I had occasion to call the fire brigade
was in March 2002. It was just a couple of weeks before the Presidential
elections and a house a few doors away was petrol bombed. Windows exploded,
the roof collapsed and a raging inferno turned night into day. The fire
brigade didn't answer their phone so I dialled the police. They said they
couldn't help as they didn't have a vehicle and were unable to alert the
fire brigade as the police telephone was not able to make outgoing calls.
The fire raged out of control and finally I got through to the fire brigade.
They said they couldn't send a fire engine as it was busy picking up a
sick person in a high density suburb. Despite my best efforts to explain
that I wasn't asking for an ambulance but a fire truck with hoses and water,
the fire brigade never came.
-
- About eighteen months later, without any explanation,
a new charge suddenly appeared on rate-payers municipal accounts. It was
called a 'fire levy' and it had been added to our monthly accounts along
with a massive increase in all municipal services ranging from 475% for
something called a development levy, to 1600% for water. On my account
for that month I wrote in big letters: "NOT PAID: Public Protest;
To be Reduced. " A hastily convened and heated public meeting, a protest
by residents to the Municipal offices and it was all over. Victory came
swiftly! The accounts were withdrawn and the increases were slashed by
over 50%.
-
- The 'fire levy,' however, became a permanent fixture
on the bill.
-
- This week Marondera residents received their monthly
Municipal accounts and were staggered to find that charges have increased
by one thousand two hundred percent. Phoning for an explanation residents
are being told they can "pay in instalments." How do you pay
a monthly bill in instalments if the account is higher than your entire
monthly wage, one resident asked? 'Just pay what you have" came the
reply; "pay in bits and pieces" the man said.
-
- Another asked if the increase had been advertised in
the press as required under the Urban Councils act. The municipal employee
said that they didn't have to advertise in the press because they had consulted
their 'stakeholders'. Asked who these stakeholders were, the employee
declined to answer and said the Town Accountant would know but he wasn't
available. When the resident asked if he was a 'stakeholder' as he lived
in the town, owned property and paid rates, the municipal employee said
"aaaaah" and laughed but did not answer.
-
- Another resident who tried to complain declined to reveal
his exact address because he is well aware of the recriminations which
accompany all forms of protest in Zimbabwe these days. He met with a very
hostile response. The Municipal employee, whose salary is paid with our
rates, said: "If you don't want to tell me where you stay, I no longer
want to talk to you" and slammed the phone down. Hardly professional
behaviour for a senior municipal employee who has clearly forgotten just
exactly where the money comes from to pay his salary.
-
- Dialogue and plain common sense have left the caretakers
of this bankrupt town. People are complaining, more will speak out. A small
picture of the bigger picture.
-
- Until next week,
-
- thanks for reading, love cathy
-
-
- Copyright cathy buckle 19 May 2007 http://africantears.netfirms.com
- My books: "African Tears" and "Beyond
Tears" are available from:
- orders@africabookcentre.com
-
-
- To subscribe/unsubscribe to this newsletter, please write
to: cbuckle@mango.zw
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