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Full council meeting declared null and void
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
Extracted from The Resident Issue 36
June 14, 2004

It all started with a bang on the table, a declaration that the meeting is closed and a walk out by the Deputy Mayor Sekesayi Makwavarara to a council meeting she had initially called to discuss the outstanding city issues. The resolve that the remaining councillors demonstrated in addressing these issues only attracted their suspension and possible dismissal from Min of Local Government Public Works and National Housing, Dr. Ignatius Chombo.The day was 31 May 2004, the day council was supposed to deliberate on the election of the Deputy Mayor , Chairpersons for the six spending committees under Harare City Council and make decisions on key areas of service delivery.

Upon the exit of Sekesayi Makwavarara, the majority of the councillors remained seated to discuss issues on the agenda. They elected Dr. Mushonga, Councillor for Ward 17, to be Deputy Mayor for the City. They also elected Cllr. L.P. Mushonga Chair of the Audit Committee, deputised by Cllr S. Dengu; Councillor Kondo was elected Chair of the Education Committee, deputised by Cllr. Jaja. Councillor Maengahama was voted Chair of the Finance Committee, to be deputised by Councillor Dr. Marunda while Councillor Mazaranhanga became chair of the Procurement Committee, deputised by Councillor Manjeya. Cllr. Kapare took the reins as chair of the Environment Committee, deputised by Cllr. Magaba. The Licensing Committee was to be chaired by Cllr. Dr. Marunda and deputised by Cllr. Madzivanyika.The exercise took almost three hours before council went into committees.

The Minister was reported by The Herald (June 1, 2004) the next day as stating that the whole operation was a panic caucus meeting circus, hence it should not be taken seriously. In fact, Councillors who participated in the show faced the ultimate reprimand of suspension without any view of coming back to council.

The move has furthered the divide currently existing in council and worsened the serious breach of moral conduct that should exist between council and residents. How are decisions in the city being made if elected representatives mandated to do so are denied every opportunity to meet? How can they make decisions when they don't constitute a quorum? What has become of our recommendation for the suspension of the 2004 budget (noting that the council meeting meant to discuss this issue was declared illegal and municipal police headed by Chinotimba told their bosses that they should not meet)? At this rate, how are going to be protected from yet another weird 2005 City budget given that all budgets have to be submitted to the Minister of Local Government by 31 October? The current impasse has dealt a blow on negotiations around the current Harare City Council Budget. Half hearted concessions on water have been made. Council and Central Government have ignored the broader concerns raised in January on service delivery and the need to create institutional support for council.

Harare has now been privatized by the mere fact that residents are not claiming their space and demanding that council and the authorities have an obligation to satisfy the needs of their local authority . We queue to pay for what quality service when executive council meetings are not held? Another commission is in the offing because of the paralysis in residents thought and action processes. Shall we continue to sit whilst the future of our children, our very livelihood, is being fiddled with for political expedience? Residents should take a stand and defend the city! THE CITY DOES NOT BELONG TO CHOMBO, MAKWAVARARA, MUSHONGA, COUNCIL EMPLOYEES OR ANY POLITICAL PARTY - IT BELONGS TO YOU. Your response to the rundown of the city is a reflection of your resignation to the good of the nation and lack of true patriotism. Its only a matter of time before raw sewer flows past your doorstep if it hasn't started by now!

Visit the CHRA fact sheet

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