Ward 11 residents in Emakhandeni, Bulawayo have urged the ZANU-PF aspiring candidate Isabel Dube to relook at her manifesto and desist from promising them boreholes as they don’t want to be in a rural setup.
Bulawayo has perennial water challenges and residents often resort to boreholes to get water during prolonged water-shedding days. This has seen most aspiring candidates promising to drill boreholes for residents, with the government’s Gwayi-Shangani dam still under construction.
Speaking during an Election Debate Series hosted by CITE, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) and Habbakuk Trust in Emakhandeni, residents questioned Dube’s manifesto and said they want treated water instead of boreholes.
“We know this is a campaign period, you are promising us boreholes but in Bulawayo why not put taped water? We don’t want to have boreholes just like in rural areas,” said one resident.
Another resident asked whether the Gwayi-Shangani dam will be affordable for the residents.
“Gwayi-Shangani is located in a low-lying area, at the moment we are getting water from the high lying area and the water bills are expensive so are we going to afford to get water from there,” he said.
In addition, another participant, Xolani Nyoni said the government failed to meet up to its 100 days promise of improving the economy.
“When the President came into power, he said we should give him 100 days and they have exceeded, you are now also here asking for 5 years as a councillor, if you failed within 100 days, is it possible that you will manage the promises you are promising when you failed within 100 days,” asked Nyoni.
In response to the concerns, Dube said the government will fulfill its vision by making sure Gwayi-Shangani Dam is completed.
“I have a vision and if it reaches here, we won’t need boreholes, Gwayi -Shangani should be functional and we won’t need the boreholes but for now we will rely on boreholes,” said Dube.
She said when the Gwayi-Shangani dam reaches Bulawayo, water will be affordable for the residents.
“When that water reaches Bulawayo, the council will be generating funds. Residents won’t feel the pinch of high water bills because the council will be already generating funds.”
Dube vowed to deliver her promises within a week once voted into power.
“I stay here in Emakhandeni, if I am elected and I don’t deliver within a week you approach me, we stay together so I won’t be delivering alone, so if you see me not delivering you won’t be delivering too,” she said.
