The Zimbabwe Union of Residents and Ratepayers Associations (ZURRA) has voiced serious concerns over the alleged exclusion of residents’ representatives from the 2026 Epworth Local Board budget consultations. This incident, which reportedly saw members of the Kushinga Epworth Residents Trust turned away from a meeting in Epworth North Ward 5, raises questions about the transparency and inclusivity of local governance processes in Zimbabwe.
ZURRA spokesperson Marvellous Kumalo highlighted that the reason given for the exclusion was the organisation’s unregistered status as a Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO). However, ZURRA argues that denying residents an opportunity to contribute to decisions directly affecting their communities undermines public participation and contravenes Section 264(2)(a) of the Constitution, which ensures community involvement in development matters.
The organisation has called for an investigation by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission into reported cases of intimidation involving local authorities and law enforcement agencies. They also urged the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to educate police officers on the PVO Act and the Ministry of Local Government to sensitise Epworth Local Board officials on municipal budgeting procedures and the importance of resident involvement.
Key Players Involved
- Zimbabwe Union of Residents and Ratepayers Associations (ZURRA): Advocacy group raising concerns over resident exclusion.
- Kushinga Epworth Residents Trust: Residents’ body whose representatives were allegedly denied access to budget talks.
- Epworth Local Board: The local authority accused of excluding residents from budget consultations.
- Marvellous Kumalo: ZURRA spokesperson who publicly addressed the issue.
Event Timeline
- November 12, 2026: ZURRA raises concerns publicly regarding the alleged exclusion of Epworth residents from 2026 budget consultations.
