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MDC's Mayor-elect fails to participate in mayoral debate
Combined Harare Residents' Association
March 05, 2002

I think the failure of Mr Mudzuri to attend tonight’s public debate was a serious misjudgement on his behalf and a slap in the face for the Residents’ Association. We spent thousands of dollars to hold this meeting. We advised Mr Mudzuri of our intention to hold the debate last week and received his agreement to attend. The adverts appeared in Monday’s papers. When I saw the notice of the Northside meeting with his name, our Advocacy Centre attempted to contact him immediately but without success. He was certainly aware of the meeting and could easily have contacted us.

Tonight at 5.35 pm I phoned Mr Mudzuri and asked him if he intended to attend. He stated that the meeting had not been confirmed with him and he considered it more important to address “the grassroots” at Northside. He stated that he might get to us later and I responded that as it was a debate, not a rally, his attendance would be required throughout the meeting. We then proceeded without him and had a lively and productive exchange of views, within a neutral forum that helped to promote the principles of mutual respect and pluralism.

So it goes.

Regards

Mike Davies
Acting Chairman
Combined Harare Residents Association

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