Bulawayo readies for World Cup
by Ronny Zikhali

THE Mayor for the City of Bulawayo Councillor Thaba Patrick Moyo has called on residents to take advantage of the Soccer World Cup tournament to be held in South Africa later this year.
The world cup will be hosted, for the first time in Africa, in June this year; will see an increase in the number of tourists visiting the continent and the mayor says this would be a chance to help boost the image and status of the city.
The Mayor said this in his end of year message to Bulawayo residents in which he highlighted the challenges faced in the previous year and also set the council's key priorities for 2010.
"As we look forward to what the year has in store for our beloved city, we are very excited and optimistic that greater things are destined for Bulawayo.
"The hosting of the World cup in neighbouring South Africa should undoubtedly result in increased business interaction between our citizens and the international community," said Clr Moyo.
He appealed to residents to gear themselves for new opportunities and become alert businesspeople who can see opportunity before it manifests.
"We must become visionaries and dreamers if we are to make an impact in this economic dispensation we are living in," the mayor said.
Clr Moyo said the year 2009 was a difficult year as far as service delivery was concerned as the city council was struggling to provide satisfactory municipal services.
He said there was an unprecedented increase in the backlog of unattended blocked sewers, and water shortages were a common feature.
"Services almost ground to a standstill due to shortages of key resources caused by the untoward shift to foreign currency, however, in the midst of all these challenges the city realised increased civic participation as various partners availed their support to the council," the mayor said.
The mayor said it was the responsibility of every Bulawayo resident to work towards creating an atmosphere conducive for investment, saying that as far as council was concerned 2010 was a year of action.
Clr Moyo said regrettably, lack of increased productivity by industry and commerce, culminated in many residents failing to fulfil their financial obligations to council, resulting in council embarking on a water disconnection programme.
"The council encourages ratepayers to engage in dialogue on the settlement of their bills so as to avoid the inconveniences that arise when water supplies are disconnected," said Clr Moyo.
He praised the residents for their tolerance, resilience and commitment during the past year considering some of the struggles they endured.
He also expressed optimism that the situation would improve for Bulawayo residents.
“Concerning the water situation, the 2009 - 2010 rainy season seems to hold some promise and our prayer is that the heavens will continue to open up and fill the city's supply dams," the mayor said.
Clr Moyo said the Council would demand efficiency from its workforce and poor performance would not be tolerated, as residents want to see results.
The Mayor said the City Council’s finances were still a cause of concern and urged the Government to make plans on sharing its revenue cake with local authorities.
Clr Moyo said there was a need for a sober and proactive approach on the part of society to have a common focus in order to formulate practical solutions to uplift communities.
"Let us set goals of rebuilding Bulawayo and the nation of Zimbabwe to its former glory. Bulawayo is an industrial hub and one of the most beautiful cities in the world, considerable strides must thus be made by all social and economic entities to ensure that we regain our former glory," said Clr Moyo.
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