Residents of Bulawayo’s Wards 1 to 6 have voiced frustration and a sense of neglect after learning that their areas will not be included in the ongoing enumeration process for the cash-for-cereal program, which aims to assist families affected by El Niño-induced shocks.
The program, managed by the Department of Social Development, is currently covering Wards 7 to 29 in Bulawayo, with enumerators going door to door to register eligible families.
Read: https://cite.org.zw/enumeration-for-cash-for-cereal-program-in-bulawayo-begins/
However, residents in Wards 1 to 6 have been excluded from this crucial process. Some argue that it is unfair to exclude these wards based on the assumption that, as ‘eastern suburbs,’ they are less vulnerable to poverty.
Community leaders in the excluded wards, which include several eastern suburbs, have advised residents to register themselves at the Welfare Department offices along Fort Street, opposite Bulawayo Centre.
The lack of door-to-door registration in these areas has sparked concerns, particularly among the elderly and those with disabilities, who find it challenging to travel to the registration offices and endure long waits.
“The Drought Relief Program registration is underway at the Welfare Department offices along Fort Street, opposite Bulawayo Centre. Please bring your ID cards, birth certificates for children, ID cards for the elderly and disabled, and any other relevant documents to support the registration. Everyone is encouraged to register,” said the Secretary General of a residents’ association in Queens Park Suburb.
Many residents find this arrangement unreasonable.
One elderly woman expressed her distress, saying, “We elderly can barely walk or sit for long hours, and we are expected to travel there and sit all day. It would be a great help if coordinators could visit each suburb to collect names.”
Another resident urged community leaders and residents’ associations to engage with the Social Welfare Department to reconsider the exclusion of Wards 1 to 6.
“They must also include Wards 1 to 6, as they too need assistance. No one should be left behind in receiving this much-needed aid,” he said.
In an interview with CITE, Ward 2 Councillor Adrian Rendani Moyo also expressed concern about the exclusion, highlighting that his ward includes vulnerable communities that desperately need support.
“We have informal settlements like Cabatsha and a significant number of senior citizens living in abject poverty. I hope the responsible authorities will reconsider,” he said.
Moyo emphasized that the belief that these wards were excluded because they are considered “eastern suburbs,” which are perceived as less vulnerable to poverty, is misguided.
“My ward should be included because it has vulnerable members of the community, including pensioners, informal settlements, and widows. Areas like Barbourfields, Cabatsha Settlement, and Kitchie Settlement should not be deemed affluent. I urge the responsible authorities to reconsider,” he added.
The councillor confirmed that he plans to visit the Social Welfare offices to discuss the matter, arguing that the exclusion undermines the process as not every deserving person will be able to visit the offices for registration.
In a previous meeting on drought mitigation held in May, hosted by Minister of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare July Moyo, Tsvagai Fikile Marovatsanga from the office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Bulawayo acknowledged that the Zimbabwe Livelihoods Assessment Committee (ZimLAC) Urban Livelihoods Assessment did not include low-density areas.
“ZimLAC only assessed the high-density areas, and I am sure there are people suffering in the low-density areas as well. I was the District Development Coordinator for Ward 2 and 3, and we do have people suffering between Ward 1 and Ward 5. These areas should also be considered,” said Marovatsanga.
Marovatsanga suggested conducting a study of low-density households by going door-to-door.
Read: https://cite.org.zw/government-officials-question-zimlac-findings-on-urban-food-security/
In that same meeting, Bulawayo Provincial Development Coordinator (PDC) Paul Nyoni also pointed out that some families in low-density households are economically struggling.
“There are some houses in distress. Drive around and you will see their problems. The houses are falling apart, and some are occupied by grandchildren,” he said.
