STAFF WRITER
VICTORIA FALLS suburbs are without street lights a development that has risked residents from wild animal attacks, a latest report reveals.
In its latest public resources management situational report, the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (Zimcodd) said an urgent move was needed to save lives in a city where human-wildlife conflict is rife.
The report also revealed that residents were not happy with the exorbitant rates they are forced to pay yet the city was failing to install street lights in the high density suburbs.
“Despite the outcry by residents every year over a mismatch between rates paid and service delivery, Victoria Falls high density suburbs remain in complete darkness facing an unending war with buffaloes, hyenas, elephants, and hippos from the Zambezi National Park which roam the streets every night,” the report said.
The report singled out Chinotimba, Mkhosana and Mfelandawonye suburbs as the most affected.
The report added: “Speaking to one of the senior residents of Victoria Falls who has lived in the city for the past 40 years, he stated that, from his formative years as a rate payer, he has been paying for the installation of streetlights. However, there are still no streetlights in the suburbs of Chinotimba, Mkhosana and Mfelandawonye.”
“He further lamented that residents are paying for a non-existent service as streetlights were only installed around Council premises such as the Housing Office and Victoria Falls Council workshop both in Mkhosana suburb. He also quizzed why the council is installing lights on a serviced highway road at the expense of ratepayers.”
The report however hailed the move by Victoria Falls City Councils, for finally managing to install street lights in the city centre as well as the 30km stretch from the Victoria Falls International Airport.
