Residents in Bulawayo South constituency have been urged to take part in a community-driven initiative to construct a new classroom block at Lotshe Primary School in Makokoba.
The appeal was made during a residents’ meeting organised by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) at Stanley Hall on Thursday.
Speaking on behalf of Bulawayo South MP Raj Modi, Hope Sendamayi said the project would be funded through a poultry initiative involving both residents and the school community.
“Lotshe Primary School is in need of a new classroom block. The school has been asked to construct a fowl run and purchase chicks,” said Sendamayi.
“Honourable Modi has pledged to provide all the stock feed required for the six-week rearing period. Once the chickens are ready for market, he will buy the entire batch, and the proceeds will be used to construct the new block.”
Sendamayi also outlined projects funded under the 2025 Constituency Development Fund (CDF), saying residents had identified priority areas including water supply, security and addressing substance abuse.
“As a constituency, we agreed on priority projects such as water, security and substance abuse. When the CDF funds were disbursed around November last year, we used part of the money to install solar-powered boreholes in various parts of Ward 7 to help mitigate water shortages,” he said.
He added that the constituency received local currency equivalent to US$50,000.
“In areas where we could not install solar-powered boreholes due to limited funds, we provided button sticks, reflective vests and other materials to support neighbourhood watch committees,” he said.
However, residents raised concerns over rising city council bills, saying some charges remained unaffordable despite regular payments.
“We are worried about the bills we are receiving from the city council. We pay our rates consistently, but the charges remain too high. Please look into the matter so that we can pay what we genuinely owe and not the exorbitant amounts reflected on our statements,” said one resident.
Another resident highlighted the growing problem of illegal dumping and burning of refuse.
“Some people are dumping waste at undesignated sites. We want to keep our community clean, but illegal dumping and burning of garbage are undermining those efforts and violating environmental regulations,” she said.
Ward 7 councillor Thandiwe Moyo urged residents to familiarise themselves with the city’s billing system and closely monitor their water consumption.
“It is important for residents to understand their monthly water charges. If your bill is around US$35 and you only pay US$10, the remaining US$25 accumulates. That is how debts build up and bills become overwhelming,” she said.