Bulawayo residents dismiss Virtual Budget Consultations

STAFF WRITER

BULAWAYO residents have dismissed out of hand city council’s proposed virtual 2021 budget consultations in the wake of Covid-19.

This week, Bulawayo city council announced that it will hold virtual meetings with residents over the 2021 budget, in a bid to reduce physical contact during the novel Corona virus.

However, residents have other ideas and believe the consultations should be broader than just on WhatsApp platform.

“There is still massive digital divide, ICTs literacy is still very low,  a few people take WhatsApp serious for such matters unless if its organized platforms like Vendors Associations, Residents Associations, church group platforms, which means that the idea will short change a lot of people,” said Michael Ndiweni, director at Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA).

Ndiweni added that the aged could not partake in virtual meetings.

“A number of old men and women are not on WhatsApp hence the discussion is attractive to young people only, hence it cannot be the only tool to gather people’s views and priorities,” he said.

The BVTA boss recommended a dual consultative process, where ward based physical consultations are also held in light of relaxed COVID19 restrictions.

Bulawayo mayor, Solomon Mguni said they would consider residents complaints.
In normal times, BCC would undertake physical consultations in all the city’s 29 wards.