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If you don't agitate for change, who will?
Combined Harare Residents' Association (CHRA)
May 05, 2003

The Combined Harare Residents Association continues to oppose the unlawful suspension of the Executive Mayor of Harare and applauds the courageous stand taken by the city councillors on Monday evening to reject the suspension. We are however extremely disappointed by the poor response of residents to this crisis and the failure of citizens to show their support for the Mayor. Today at the weekly consultative meeting held at Town Hall, only 25 residents could be bothered to attend. Over 250 000 voters elected Mayor Mudzuri last year: 25 people represent 0.01% of these voters or 0.000 02% of Harare's residents! If people cannot be bothered to exercise their democratic right to meet with their elected representatives, it is no wonder that the enemies of democracy are so successful in ignoring these rights.

Not one councillor, any Harare MPs or representatives of the MDC attended (apart from Deputy Mayor Makwavarara and MP Trudy Stevenson) which is even more of an indictment on our elected reresentatives' commitment to transparent, open and democratic government. As chairman of CHRA , I deplore the apathy, fear, self-interest or any other reason that lies behind the non-attendance of residents: the police present were not aggressive nor were they preventing people entering. While I understand the healthy fear that we all have of the regime and its repressive forces, we have to occupy the little democratic space that remains otherwise we will lose that as well.

People say that we get the leaders we deserve and perhaps this is true. I and others in the residents movement have spent many years fighting for democracy on behalf of Harare's citizens. Next Wednesday's meeting will be a litmus test of the commitment of our citizens to democracy and good governance - certainly if there is a repeat of today's dismal turnout, I for one will carefully consider my own commitment to the civic work that I have been doing.

Michael Davies
Chairperson
Combined Harare Residents Association
11 Armagh Rd Eastlea HARARE
PO Box HR 7840 HARARE

Tel 746019 or 776157
Private 498792
cell +263 (0) 91249430

email (direct) gardener@zol.co.zw, chra@ecoweb.co.zw

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