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Harare City Budget for 2004
Combined Harare Residents' Association (CHRA)
February 07, 2004

CHRA has engaged in an extensive consultative process with regard to the Harare City budget for 2004. As the representatives of the interests of all the residents of Harare, we are responsible for ensuring transparent and accountable local government that provides efficient and cost-effective service delivery to residents.

After receiving input from residents in all areas of the city, CHRA rejects the budget on the following grounds:

• The budget is the result of an unacceptable process that did not seek comprehensive input from the residents.
• It fails to take into account the economic constraints upon all residents.
• It is the product of technocrats within the municipality with minimal or no input from councilors who rubberstamped the budget.
• The consideration of the numerous objections (2 500) to the budget was unacceptable and cursory. Objections were summarized by the Acting City Treasurer not Councilors.
• It has been implemented without the approval of the Minister of Local Government
• Increases in the motor vehicle licensing fees must be promulgated by the Ministry of Transport and Communication under the Vehicle Registration and Licensing Act. Therefore the increases are illegal. (Statutory instrument 333 of 2002)
• The punitive increases will force both residents and business out of the city leading to a further decline in the revenue base.
• The increases in the water charges will lead to non-payment by poorer residents, cut-offs and illegal connections. Water is a right not a privilege.
• Chitungwiza is charged at commercial rates for water yet is home to tens of thousands of working class residents who pay three or four times for water as Harare’s residents.

CHRA therefore demands that

• Council immediately suspends the proposed budget prior to a review of the budgetary process, the implementation of extensive consultations with residents at ward level and the implementation of a people-driven budget.
• Council put its house in order, including sound financial management that ensures all residents and businesses contribute to the running of the city.
• Parliament amends the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) in line with recommendations from CHRA and others stakeholders to create a people-oriented Local Government Act that institutionalizes participatory democracy and accountability.
• The regime reinstates the Executive Mayor of Harare and the fired councilors and desists from interfering with the operations of the City. CHRA reject attempt by the regime to impose the Town Clerk as de facto Mayor.

CHRA calls upon all residents of Harare to demand accountability from Council at city and ward level, and to affirm their ownership of the city by rejecting the punitive budget until such time as Council accedes to our demands, we call upon residents to consider their options which include a refusal to pay the iniquitous increases and to pay only those rates and charges prevailing in December 2003.

Should Council fail to accede to our legitimate demands, CHRA will call for their resignation en bloc and the holding of new elections that will hopefully result in the election of councilors who are genuinely interested in the welfare of the city and its residents.

Visit the CHRA fact sheet

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