Back to Index

CHRA deplores suspension of Executive Mayor Eng. Elias Mudzuri
Combined Harare Residents' Association (CHRA)
April 30, 2003

Chombo's letter to Mudzuri, Sample protest letter over Mudzuri's suspension, CHRA petition

Combined Harare Residents Association wishes to record its rejection of the latest move by the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to suppress the democratic process in the City of Harare. The suspension of the Executive Mayor of Harare is the culmination of numerous attempts by the Ministry to deny residents the right to participate in the decision-making process.

The minister’s disregard of the legitimate residents’ voice is most unfortunate; the ratepayers and residents of the city, through whom he attempts to legitimise the suspension, are in reality ignored. Numerous consultative meetings that have been called for by the Executive Mayor have been disrupted. In one bizarre case the Executive Mayor has been arrested together with residents for discussing issues that affect them in Mabvuku.

As residents we will not accept the situation. The city must not be disrupted by people bent on scoring political points at the expense of real issues such as the water situation, housing, sewerage reticulation and waste removal. These problems date back to the Tawengwa-led Council and are not caused by the democratically elected council we now have. If the Minister is concerned about the residents and ratepayers, then he would engage them in discussions with the Mayor over these matters. We went through the courts to achieve a democratically elected council and we will not hesitate to do so again to defend our democratic space.

We believe that the real reason for the concern in Harare’s affairs by the regime lies in the loss of the patronage opportunities that exist in the city, from contracts to employment. These have been denied to the regime as a result of the elections last year and the regime is eager to reclaim looting privileges.

We have followed the surprising attention and focus on the City Council through the media with growing disdain. In the one and a half years that the present council has been in power the state media has reported nothing good coming out of it, when remarkable development has in fact been registered. The mainstream government media has denied the Executive Mayor the chance to express himself through them, thus fanning our conviction that it is a calculated move to stifle his input e.g. to provide space for a phone in programme for the Executive Mayor to talk about the water situation.

We thus call for a cessation of the interference, the reinstatement of the mayor and an acceptance by central government that we need to go beyond party politics in resolving the issues affecting the City, which are a microcosm of what is happening in the country. Consultation and humility are required before we can seek long lasting solutions.

CHRA Mission Statement
To represent and support member associations and all residents of Harare by advocating for effective, transparent and affordable municipal and other services and quality facilities on a professional, non party basis.

For more information:
Tel: +263-(0)91-249430
Email: chra@ecoweb.co.zw

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