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Councillors to resign?
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
Extracted from The Resident, Issue 39
August 12, 2004

Harare City Councillors have had their fare share of problems ever since they were elected into office. They have been emasculated through directives from the regime; they have been accused of peddling the whims of foreign, and often white, interests; they have seen colleagues suspended, then dismissed. Harare Councillors have been threatened, dismissed, spat on and cajoled. Now they want to quit.

The Zimbabwe Independent (July 30 2004 - Harare MDC Councillors set to quit) reports that Councillors from the Movement for Democratic Change, who are the majority in council, are planning to withdraw from council.

The MDC-led council feels that determined efforts are underway to stifle their success. "Councillors no longer have any say in the affairs of the city so there is no need to remain there" said a councillor who was quoted by The Independent.

CHRA condemns the heinous attempt by a rogue regime to stifle residents' representation on the pretext of acting in our interests. As we write, the Executive Mayor of Chegutu, Mr. Dhlakama has been dismissed from office on allegations of corruption when the Town's Residents Association has been complaining about the misuse of Council property by the Deputy Mayor of the Town, Mr. Mariyapera. Mr. Mariyapera is alleged to have laid siege on the Executive Mayor and instilled fear in the local residents through the operation of a rogue consort of brigands he calls "the mafia" Are residents to sit and watch whilst the regime illegally re-takes control of the towns? Surely not!

Should the remaining councillors resign, they will send a very strong message to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. The Ministry's right to oversee the activities of councils should not overshadow councils' capacity to manage its own affairs. Worse still, the exclusion of residents in the debate spells doom on councils' efforts to engage stakeholders. Gone are the days when councils used to be unapproachable and governance was the preserve of government appointees. Residents have a right to participate in the affairs of their communities and to have a meaningful role in the decision-making process. The struggle for real freedom is not yet over.

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