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Set up committee to audit performance of Harare and Chitungwiza municipalities
Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ)
September 02, 2009

We urge government to urgently investigate allegations of corruption within the Harare City Council and Chitungwiza municipality and audit the performance of these local authorities. Our calls come against a background of wrong priorities being set by these local authorities at the expense of residents and the allegations of corruption in the allocation of residential stands, awarding of tenders and the resultant poor services being rendered.

At The Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ) we are concerned about poor services that are being rendered by the two municipalities and yet residents and ratepayers are being made to pay huge sums for rates. We suspect that in Harare and Chitungwiza, the problem is with some self-serving individuals who are concerned more about their welfare and not that of the residents.

At a time when our economy is trying to recover, we are puzzled that Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda and top officials at the Harare City Council see it fit to buy luxury vehicles. These priorities erode our confidence in the local authority and put to question the integrity of our civic leaders. We express strong reservations at the manner in which City of Harare officials are conducting themselves. Whilst the officials, including Mayor Masunda are entitled to benefits, we disagree with making the issue of benefits a top priority over other issues such as pumping clean water to residents, filling potholes and collecting garbage.

We urge government to take seriously our calls for the need to institute local governance reforms so that the local authorities are responsive and accountable to the needs of residents and ratepayers. The citizens who are affected by the decisions of these local authorities must be allowed to participate in the decision-making process so that they are not shortchanged by some selfish civic leaders.

CCDZ implores the Minister of Local government, Rural and Urban Development Dr Ignatius Chombo and Deputy Minister Mr Sesel Zvidzai to set up a team of experts to audit the performance of these local authorities. This team should work with the democratically-elected councilors and present its findings to the Ministry of Local government, Rural and Urban Development. These findings should be made public and corrective measures must be taken to remedy the situation.

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