Back to Index

David Samudzimu takes leave of absence as Chairman of CHRA
Combined Harare Residents' Association
February 25, 2002

David Samudzimu has taken leave of absence as Chairman of the Combined Harare Residents Association with effect from Monday 25th February 2001.

The reasons for this are:

• David Samudzimu is naturally disappointed with the selection and nomination process for the Mayor of Harare. He has demonstrated a total commitment to the well being of the residents of Harare that is unquestioned and that has been achieved at great cost both financially and personally. The overwhelming support that he received in his last-minute decision to stand is both reassuring and a vindication of a difficult decision to seek the position of Mayor as an Independent.

• Rather than contest the patently flawed events that took place in the Nomination Court on Monday 18th February, David Samudzimu realized that no litigation can have any effect when the Executive can overturn a Supreme Court decision at the stroke of a pen and therefore has accepted with regret that he will not be able to serve the citizens of Harare as their Mayor at this time.

• He has been threatened together with his family by those who mistakenly perceive him as a political threat rather than simply a concerned citizen who has had the courage to confront the political culture in this country. In this David Samudzimu does challenge all of us - to examine our own commitment to democracy and good governance, and our varying degrees of acquiescence in the process that has brought us to this point. The most recent threats emanated from a sufficiently high level to convince us that his physical safety is in question; the intolerance demonstrated by the State for opposition and criticism needs no expansion here.

• At no time did CHRA campaign for David Samudzimu and those individuals who worked on his behalf did so in their private capacity not as office bearers or members of CHRA. However it is important for the Combined Harare Residents Association to reassert its non-partisan stance in the face of unwarranted criticism that it has a party political agenda. CHRA will continue to contribute to the growth of civil society in Harare and in Zimbabwe, irrespective of who wins the forthcoming elections. The current polarisation and partisan nature of local government must be opposed and we look forward to a new council that will put the interests of our citizens first before those of any political party.

• CHRA has been engaged in a productive relationship with civil society in Munich and has sought to maintain and develop links with our twin city that had been suspended at Municipal level because of the illegal Commission that was imposed by government. To further these links David Samudzimu has been delegated to travel to Munich to brief our partners there and to lay the groundwork for a future visit by CHRA and the democratically elected Council-to-be. Upon his return he will no doubt continue to serve Harare in the exemplary manner we have come to expect from him.
  

Until CHRA meets to hold its annual elections in March, I will be acting Chairman and will continue to carry out our mandate with the full support of all our members. In particular we will be pursuing the legal battle that we initiated in September 2001, which has, at last, allowed the citizens of Harare to choose their own leaders. Remember if it weren't for CHRA and its partners, there would be no municipal elections at all - Citizen Power is a reality that has amply demonstrated its effectiveness. Join your local residents association and be a part of this empowering process.

We appeal to all citizens to cast their votes on 9th and 10th March for those aspiring councillors who can serve our needs best and to reject those who see elections as merely a path to personal enrichment. CHRA will monitor all those elected without fear or favour and we look forward to working with progressive councillors to restore and develop our beloved city.

Mike Davies
Acting Chairman

Visit the CHRA fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP