Pumula North residents on Wednesday reportedly blocked a team of contractors who were replacing old water meters in the suburb arguing that locals were left out of the project.
Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is currently undergoing a program to replace about 500 dysfunctional household water meters in high-density suburbs as part of the Bulawayo Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project (BWSSIP).
The Town Clerk, Christopher Dube, in a statement last week had said a private contractor Unik Construction Engineering Private limited will be carrying out the bulk meter replacement work.
The BWSSIP which seeks to improve municipal water supply and sanitation services started in Pumula North, however, residents blocked the project.
Speaking to CITE, ward 17 councillor Sikhululekile Moyo revealed that residents stopped the proceedings as they were not happy.
“Residents in ward 17 have stopped the workers from proceeding with the project because they are not happy that workers are not coming from the ward,” said Cllr Moyo.
She said the local authority had agreed that some workers will be taken from the ward.
“We agreed that when replacing water meters they will employ ten local youths and last week they called me and gave them the list but they decided to bring their own people so residents stopped them,” she said.
Councillor Moyo said she supported the stance taken by the residents as she wants local jobs to benefit local people.
“I am really happy with residents` decision, they should go and practice such in other areas, here we want local jobs to benefit local people,” she said.
The project is going to run till the end of June in Western Suburbs.
In areas such as Kelvin North, Kelvin West, Kelvin East, Thorngrove and Sizinda the maintenance will be conducted on February 24.
Between March 2 and March 25, the project will move to Old Magwegwe old/BS, New Magwegwe, Magwegwe West, Magwegwe North and Cowdray Park.
Areas which include Entumbane, Emakhandeni, Lobengula West, New Lobengula and Lobengula Extension will be covered between March 30 to April 23.
Nkulumane, Nketa, Emganwini, Bellevue, West Somerton, Matshobana and Mabuthweni will be maintained between April 27 till May 23.
Between May 25 to June 14 the project will move to Pumula East, Pumula Old, Luveve, Emqameni, Enqotsheni and Njube.
