By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Beitbridge – Residents of Beitbridge Ward 3 opted to boycott the budget consultations scheduled for yesterday , expressing dissatisfaction with the absence of senior council officials.
The decision to refuse participation stems from a belief that their time would be wasted without the presence of key decision-makers.They demanded the presence of the Town Clerk, Loud Ramagkapola and a host other senior council officials.
During the meeting, residents voiced their frustrations, emphasizing the importance of having senior representatives available to address their concerns directly.
“We are wasting our time because the council officials are not present here; we want them to be around, ” said one attendee of the aborted meeting.
The community residents also articulated a need for clarity on various issues, particularly those related to engineering and the council’s budget.
“We have questions for engineering and the council secretary; they need to be available to answer them, not messengers,” a resident remarked.
The discontent was further fueled by a sense of unfulfilled promises from the council. One resident expressed their disappointment, saying, “A lot of things that have been promised but yet not fulfilled. They sent junior accountants; we want senior accountants to explain the budget to us.”
This refusal to engage in the budget consultations highlights a growing frustration among residents who seek transparency and accountability from their local government.
Meanwhile Ward 3 Councilor Takavingei Mahachi promised the residents that he will have to reschedule the meeting with new dates to be advised.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the council will address these concerns and whether future consultations will see improved attendance from senior officials.