MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-In the bustling city of Gweru, tensions have been running high as residents increasingly become frustrated with the persistent challenges in local authority service delivery.
The city has been battling to provide proper services due to an array of challenges that include dilapidated and aging infrastructure, a growing population, and lack of resources among other issues.
These challenges sometimes lead to serious conflict between the local authority and residents.
However, today’s training session led by former Member of Parliament for Gweru Urban and prominent lawyer Brian Dube aims to arm the community with tools to navigate conflicts constructively.
Dube, who has extensive experience in mediation and conflict resolution, takes Gweru’s councilors and community members through an intensive training on de-escalating tensions and finding common ground.
The training, which was organized by Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA), is part of a broader effort to promote harmony in the city as it continues to grapple with service delivery issues.
“Conflict is inevitable, especially when resources are scarce and community needs are not being fully met,” Dube explained.
“But, what is key is learning how to manage that conflict in a healthy, productive way that brings people together rather than driving them apart,” he said.
Throughout the session, Dube led participants through a variety of role-playing exercises and discussion-based activities designed to build empathy, improve communication skills, and develop collaborative problem-solving techniques.
The goal, he said, was to equip both residents and local leaders with the conflict resolution capabilities needed to de-escalate tensions and work towards sustainable solutions.
“Often, conflicts in our communities arise from a lack of understanding – of each other’s perspectives, of the underlying issues at play, of the best ways to work through disagreements,” Dube noted.
“This training is about breaking down those barriers and giving people a constructive framework for addressing their concerns,” he added.
The former MP said residents and leaders should put these conflict resolution skills into practice, ultimately helping to foster a more harmonious and resilient community.
GRRA executive director, Cornilia Selipiwe added that the skills cultivated through the training empower councilors and residents to be more collaborative, strategic, and responsive leaders for their community.
“Tailoring these conflict resolution approaches to the specific service delivery problems in Gweru, local officials can make meaningful headway in addressing the root causes of these critical issues,” said Selipiwe.
Youth participant and civic society leader, Hazel Denhere, said the session was eye-opening and empowering.
“As someone who has felt increasingly frustrated with the city’s challenges, it was valuable to learn techniques for channeling that energy in a more positive direction,” she shared.
“I feel better equipped to engage with my fellow residents and elected officials to find common ground and work towards progress.”
The training sessions touched on the root causes of the service delivery conflicts in Gweru, including a lack of constructive communication between residents and local authorities, as well as deep-seated mindsets, behaviors, and power dynamics that perpetuate tensions.
