By Own Correspondent| A residents association here has petitioned recently sworn in Bulawayo councillors to declare their assets arguing that such a move will reduce corruption.

The Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Association (BPRA) said if councillors declare their assets, they would have set the trend in curbing the scourge which was rampant in most urban authorities.

The previous council was accused of high levels of corruption.

Read part of the petition written by BPRA acting co-ordinator Emmanuel Ndlovu:

“Once such a declaration is made, registers of interest should then be kept and these should be made publicly accessible.

The registers of interest should then be updated annually as and when changes in your assets occur and these shall be publicly accessible.

BPRA believes such a step shall be a game-changer in the fight against corruption and that you can be Bulawayo’s number one anti-corruption champion…

BPRA is willing to second its expertise to help the council develop and maintain such a register.”

MDC Alliance’s Bulawayo provincial chairperson, Gift Banda, said that the initiative was a welcome one although he said the party would need to advise on how to proceed.-Newsday