BULAWAYO city councillors were on Wednesday evening locked in an emotional debate over mushrooming sports bars in Mpopoma, with some city fathers saying the facilities are killing the future of young people, especially teenage girls.
BY KHANYILE MLOTSHWA
According to some councillors, the issue of mushrooming sports bars in the city’s ward 9, which covers Mpopoma, Matshobana and Kelvin North 2, was so serious to the extent that residents have threatened to take unspecified action against the city fathers.
Residents felt the local authority was imposing these sports bars on them and not providing meaningful development that would ensure a bright future for their children.
Ward 22 councillor, Rodney Jele, was the first to raise the issue of mushrooming sports bard in Mpopoma.
“I realise that the matter is part of the agenda as well today,” he said. “The councillor of the ward has pointed out that this issue is so serious that he has even received threats. We know that threats can be real at times. Why can’t we allow the councillor time to go and talk to the people in his ward because this thing is a serious matter in the ward.”
However, ward 16 councillor, Nephat Sibanda sought to downplay the concerns, arguing the local authority’s due process must be followed.
“If the councillor has any objections, he should put it in writing just like everyone around that area concerned,” he said.
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Ward 1 councillor, Mlandu Ncube said it would be irresponsible to adhere to the letter of the law at the expense of pressing issues around the problem at hand.
“When we are here, we represent everyone including old women who can’t see and can’t read,” he said. “There are so many bottle stores in Mpopoma that I wonder what kind of a future is the local authority selling to the place. You will agree with me that this has even encouraged teenage prostitution in the area. It is our job as city fathers to protect those kids as well.”
Ward 9 councillor, Charles Moyo said residents have been clear they are not interested in yet another sports bar in the area.
“According to the report on an earlier advertised sports bar, there were 22 objections out of 30 letters sent out to find out the residents’ opinions,” he said. “It came to councillors, and councillors said whatever residents are saying does not matter as they (councillors) were here for development. What kind of development is that? Today residents are even planning to engage human rights lawyers over the matter. It would seem like, as the local authority, we want to create a Sodom and Gomora out of Mpopoma.”
The local authority agreed to defer the matter until the councillor consults with residents.
