MASVINGO residents say they will not bow down to any form of intimidation from Zanu PF, the state and their local council to stop protests demanding better service delivery despite repeated threats they are receiving.
In recent weeks, the residents grouping under the banner, “Masvingo United Residents and Rate Payers Alliance (MURRA)”, has been holding wildcat demonstrations demanding improved service delivery including, a reduction of council rates, more water supplies, improved refuse collection and road repairs.
However, the organisers of the protests have received threats from irritated Zanu PF officials while some of their leaders have been arrested on a litany of charges under their civic society campaign #ratesmustfall.
Early this year, the Masvingo City Council imposed a unilateral 700% hike on all rates.
Residents are now paying a minimum of $2 600 a month but service delivery, in the country’s first urban settlement, remains non-existent.
In recent weeks, the demonstrations and street graffiti on walls with messages demanding the city council to slash rates, have characterised the daily life of Masvingo.
However, Zanu PF, through its Masvingo District Coordinating Committee (DCC) officials have issued repeated warnings to MURRA executives to desist from politicising the city’s operations.
The ruling party officials also accuse the pressure group of meddling in politics and hiding behind residents’ interests to score “cheap” political points.
Zanu PF also accuses MURRA of advocating ‘evil’ protests against government, acts which were meant to tarnish the national governing authority’s image.
The DCC officials have since issued unspecified actions against the association’s representatives, including MURRA coordinator Anoziva Muguti.
However, Muguti said his association was apolitical and only represented the interests of Masvingo residents and remained unmoved in executing its legal mandate.
“We always receive such threats, but that does not in any way deter us from doing our work,” Muguti said.
“We represent residents from across the political divide and those who want to criminalise our work, are doing that from an uninformed point. Hikes in rates affect all residents equally, they are not selective,” Muguti said.
The mounting pressure has resulted in the city fathers tabling a paltry 20% reduction, which residents say is still low.
The provision of essential services in the country’s first urban settlement has reached rock bottom with residents facing acute water challenges. -New Zimbabwe
