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Full
council meeting - circus or real?
Combined
Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
June 01, 2004
Combined Harare Residents
Association (CHRA) is concerned about the action taken by Acting Mayor
of Harare, Sekesai Makwavarara, at a full council meeting held on Monday
31 May 2004.
In yet another twist to the twist at Town House, the Acting Mayor declared
the full council meeting ended to prevent councillors from electing committee
chairpersons and the Deputy Mayor. Ms Makwavarara brandished a letter
from the Ministry of Local government, Public Works and National Housing
directing Councillors to restrict themselves to business other than the
elections.
CHRA applauds the
resolution by the rest of the councillors to continue with the meeting
despite the Acting Mayor’s decision. Council has only met once this year,
and service delivery has been severely affected by the continued advancing
of personal and partisan interests at the expense of residents concerns.
The organisation views
the action by council as indicative of the desire to address the city’s
ills. It is important to define the governance system at Town House to
enable efficient and effective service delivery. We trust that the Ministry
realises this objective and provides the necessary support to council.
CHRA calls for an
end to the fiasco at Town House. Residents are paying dearly for the errors
of individuals who have none but their own interests to articulate. Harare
is the sunshine city and will not bow to selfish interests. All stakeholders
must come together to make the city a better place to live in.
On conclusion, we
reiterate our call for the amendment of the Urban Councils Act [Chapter
29:15] and the constitutionalisation of local government. No one person
can claim monopoly over local government, and every effort to elevate
it from being a mere act of Parliament is vital. Its time all "parties"
got their act together for the survival of the city.
Visit
the CHRA fact sheet
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