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Harare
forfeits billions in Munich aid
The
Zimbabwe Independent
July 02,
2004
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/news/2004/July/Friday2/868.html
Equipment worth
billions of dollars destined for Zimbabwe lies idle in Munich after
the German city suspended its cooperation with Harare last year.
The Zimbabwe Independent can reveal that Harare's former twin city,
Munich, had sourced hospital and other medical equipment, computers,
water treatment equipment and refuse removal vehicle spare parts
but could not send the much-needed consignment after Local Government
minister Ignatius Chombo suspended popularly-elected Harare mayor
Elias Mudzuri and virtually took over the running of the city. Mudzuri
was subsequently dismissed in April this year. In an interview with
the Independent last week, Munich mayor Hep Monatzeder's personal
assistant Renate Hechenberger said cooperation would remain frozen
until the political situation in Harare improves. "Cooperation
with Harare remains frozen until someone democratically-elected
by the people of Harare takes over the mayoral office," Hechenberger
said. She said Munich had resolved to suspend links for as long
as there was no popularly-elected contact person trusted by the
people of Harare. "We initially didn't want to stop our cooperation
with Harare because of the positive response we got from the citizens
of Germany following an appeal by Harare residents. But because
of the government of Zimbabwe's continued interference and subsequent
dismissal of the mayor we had no option. We are however still receiving
donations from well-wishers but these will not be shipped to Harare
until democracy prevails in the city."
Hechenberger
said when Mudzuri was in office he launched an appeal to Munich
for donations to overhaul clinics, the refuse collection system
and water treatment of the city of Harare. "A delegation from
Munich visited Harare to assess the need. When the appeal was beginning
to pay dividends, the mayor was suspended," she said. She said
the city of Munich was holding back water treatment machine spare
parts, refuse removal vehicle spares, computers and medical equipment
all donated by private companies. "We hope to resume our cooperation
with Harare as soon the powers to run the city affairs are returned
to the electorate. In the meantime we are strengthening our links
with private and civic groups that are working for the development
of the local authority," Hechenberger said. Prior to the freezing
of cooperation projects between the two cities, Munich was helping
Harare with technical know-how and exchange programmes in the fields
of water supply, waste management, health care and data processing.
Mudzuri had signed an agreement on the cooperation.
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