The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has been urged to launch awareness campaigns to educate residents about the proposed water utility and the potential impact it could have on water access for various stakeholders.
This call follows a survey conducted by the Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights (MIHR), which assessed the level of understanding among Bulawayo residents regarding water utility companies.
The survey revealed that 88% of participants were unaware of what water utility companies are and their role in the city’s water and sanitation services.
MIHR coordinator Khumbulani Maphosa highlighted that the survey results indicate the local authority made a significant policy decision without sufficiently engaging the community.
“The scorecard survey shows that the majority of Bulawayo residents (88.4%) are ignorant of what water utility companies are and their relevance in water and sanitation service delivery in the city, as they rated their knowledge below an average score of 3,” Maphosa said.
“Only 12% of respondents had a clear understanding of utility companies. These findings suggest that the BCC has made a critical public policy decision without involving and educating residents, violating the principles of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, which are essential for public decision-making.”
Maphosa emphasized that resident involvement and consultation should go beyond simply asking for agreement or disagreement on the policy. He stressed the importance of informing and educating residents about water utility companies to ensure they can participate in consultations from an informed perspective.
“No meaningful consultation and participation can occur without first informing residents and raising their awareness. Any consultation by the BCC or civic society without prior public education on utility companies will result in ‘blind consultations,’ where residents may reject or accept the concept based on emotions or manipulation rather than informed discretion,” Maphosa explained.
He called on the BCC to fulfill its duty of administrative justice by developing and implementing public awareness programs in clear and accessible language to inform residents about the public utility company policy and its implications for water and sanitation services.
Additionally, Maphosa urged the media to not only report on decisions but also to interpret their significance for residents, enhancing knowledge and informed decision-making. He also encouraged civil society organizations (CSOs) to advocate for public education before consultations and, where possible, take the initiative to educate residents about water utility companies through objective awareness-raising efforts.
