Poor service delivery is an insult to democracy
It is tantamount to citizen exploitation,
a sign of disrespect and lack of patriotism
a real danger to life
As residents and citizens
Ratepayers and breadwinners
We have the right to know
Why ZESA tariffs go up,
while the service goes down.
We have the right to know
Why we pay so much
For so much load shedding
Siphuma ngomnyama: singene ngawo
Sesizizambane zakoBulawayo
Ezigadwa ngumthakath’uZESA
We have the right to know,
Why they earn so much
To deliver so little
Basijwayel’okwengindi etsh’ ingatsho
We deserve to know,
Why all cars park paside in every roadblock
While road accidents persist after day long roadblocks
We deserve to know
Why almost every police officer in this city
Speaks a language of their own
and expects me to respond alike
We really deserve to know
Whether it’s a fact
That all political crimes are committed by opposition party members
I have the right to remain silent
For what I say may be used against me in the court of law
But when I am silent bathi zinharo
We deserve to know
Whether we have a police service for the people
Or a police force: Against the people
We deserve to know
How BCC is able to purchase expensive high-class cars
For the rich and greedy bosses
While failing to pay workers adequately and in time
We deserve to know
Why it takes so long to attend to burst sewer and water pipes
When there is enough energy to repair amabhawa
And leaking ingwebu tanks
We deserve to know
Why there is still the call to “Keep Bulawayo Clean”
When Council is not collecting refuse
We deserve to know
Why we elect councilors
Whose decisions are overridden by the secretariat
Siss you City Father,
Bulawayo is our city not your private company
Cleanliness is next to godliness
Service delivery is the cousin of democracy
We are starved of information
Knowledge and phone calls
We deserve to know how our bills accumulate charge
Even when we make no calls
We deserve to know
What happened to the estimated yesteryear bills
We suffocate as calls can’t go through
Even when the bills are fully paid
Maybe we pay for the calls
You make as you forget to monitor our bills
Forewarned is forearmed
We deserve the best or none
Better without than like with when actually without
We shall take to the streets tomorrow
We shall refuse to pay any bill tomorrow
We are tired of being enslaved by the products of our vote
Deliver or leave us
We deserve the best service delivery
Not piece meal solutions
We don’t want load shedding timetables
We want water in our pumps and electricity in our homes
We don’t need long media briefs
Justifications of injustice
We deserve the best or none
Better without than like with when actually without
We shall take to the streets tomorrow
We shall refuse to pay any bill tomorrow
And refuse eve to be arrested by any officer tomorrow
Sizafanan bobhoyi
Phela okungapheliyo kuyahlola
Labels: democracy, residents wars, service delivery
