Fix Service Delivery First before funding Starlink Internet for officials, Marondera Residents Fume
Tiyani Hahlani
Centre News Hub
MARONDERA – The Marondera residents have come out guns blazing and condemned Marondera council for passing a resolution to install Starlink internet kits at the homes of councilors and council officials at a time service delivery provision is massively deteriorating.
In a press statement issued on June 27, Marondera Residents Open Forum (MAROF) warned the local authority that it should prioritise restoring essential services instead of extending luxurious communication benefits to office bearers.
MAROF said the Full Council Resolution FC44/26 comes at a time when residents continue to endure deteriorating roads, erratic water supplies, sewer blockages, poor refuse collection, inadequate street lighting and the absence of basic infrastructure in several residential areas.
MAROF Director Tapiwa Chengeta said the reported decision reflected misplaced priorities at a time when residents expected the municipality to channel its limited resources towards improving service delivery.
“As the residents forum of Marondera, we strongly oppose this resolution and view it as a misplaced priority at a time when residents continue to endure poor service delivery across the town,” said Chengeta.
He said residents continue to finance the municipality through rates and other charges but are not receiving services that match their contributions, making it difficult to justify expenditure on internet facilities for councilors and council officials.
According to MAROF, councilors and senior management officials are already provided with communication tools, including mobile phones and airtime allowances, to facilitate official business, making the proposed Starlink installations an unnecessary expense.
“Every available dollar should be directed towards improving service delivery and addressing the pressing needs of residents. Public resources must serve the public interest first before being channeled towards benefits for office bearers and officials,” Chengeta said.
Efforts to get a comment from Marondera Town Clerk, Runashe Nyamuzihwa, were fruitless.
The organisation urged Marondera Municipality to immediately suspend and reverse the reported resolution while engaging residents openly and transparently on expenditure priorities.
MAROF said that should the municipality proceed with implementing the reported resolution, residents would pursue lawful avenues to demand accountability, including petitioning the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works and other oversight institutions, as well as conducting public engagement campaigns aimed at ensuring the responsible use of public funds.
