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The Water Crisis in Harare - Combined Harare Residents Association sets the record straight
Combined Harare Residents' Association (CHRA)
December 13, 2002

Combined Harare Residents Association, representing the interests of Residents within the City of Harare wishes to correct the misconceptions that may have arisen from our responses to the water crisis as broadcasted by the ZBC/TV on the 09th and 10th of December 2002. The Association’s views were taken out of context resulting in the distortion of our message and the confusion of the residents who contributed to the statement.

The Association demands the facts and the truth about the water situation. Conflicting reports have been received from the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and the City of Harare. The Association has resolved to lobby for a commission of enquiry, mandated by council resolutions and made up of technocrats in water engineering to investigate the crisis. This is premised on our belief in participatory and representative democracy as we have fought for an elected council through a legal battle lasting two and a half years during the Chanakira Commission. We want to make it clear that, The Association believes that these problems are only the tip of the iceberg.

There has been no joint formal statement by the City Council and the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing on the matter. We suggest that a live phone in Television and Radio programme featuring the Executive Mayor of Harare, the Chief Chemist of council, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, and the Minister himself. This will go a long way to allaying the worries and fears of residents.

The Combined Harare Residents Association can facilitate such non-partisan public debates as we have done in the past on the budget and other issues. As a non-partisan association in pursuit of transparent, efficient, and enhanced civic participation in local government so as to ensure that essential services and quality facilities are provided for the residents, we will not bow down to political bungling and name calling as implied in the edited interview made on television. The Ministry and Council must look for ways to solve the crisis. There is no way that council can work to solve the crisis without the input of the Ministry and central government. Central Government and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe must recognise the strain that the macro- economic environment has exerted on Council and should come to its aid as well. The sewerage treatment works must be upgraded because the present quota is insufficient to serve the residents. Lastly, we urge the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, together with council, to consider alternative water sources for the city.

F.B. Mangodza (Mr.)
Chief Executive Officer
Combined Harare Residents Association

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