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Interference of the Minister of Local Government in the running of City of Harare
Combined Harare Residents' Association
October 10, 2002

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CHRA rejects the dictatorial interference of the Minister of Local Government in the affairs of the democratically elected Mayor and council of our city.

The misguided belief of the minister that the council is in office to carry out the policies and wishes of central government is completely unacceptable. Implicit in the very notion of local government elections is the democratic ideal of pluralism and the admission of the possibility of communities electing representatives from different political parties. The continuing refusal of the regime to accept the democratic wishes of our citizens is intolerable. The fact that CHRA had to resort to legal action to force the regime to hold municipal elections is still fresh in our minds and we will not allow the Minister to undermine and erode our democratic rights.

The Minister instructs the Executive Mayor to produce a so-called turn-around plan yet the Minister is part of an illegitimate regime that has ruined the economy of our country, destroyed the rule of law, allowed rampant intimidation and violence, and reduced our nation to pariah status. It is hypocritical for such a regime to purport to be acting in the interests of our citizens, especially in Harare where 80% of the electorate rejected the ruling party in the March municipal elections.

The current city budget was imposed upon the residents of Harare by the illegitimate Chanakira Commission and our elected Council is yet to come up with its own budget based on the needs and aspirations of our citizens. Even then the macro-economic realities of Zimbabwe are such that far from being able to turn-around the city, the best we can hope for is that the Council will be able to alleviate the effects of the economic collapse precipitated by the regime.

The continuing attempts by the Minister to hamstring the Mayor and the Council are unacceptable. We call upon the residents of Harare to support the Mayor and the Council and to resist this undemocratic interference. Zvakwana: enough is enough!

Mike Davies
Acting Chairman
Combined Harare Residents Association

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