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MDC resignations plunge capital city into crisis
The Business Day (SA)
September 06, 2004

http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID=10064

Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, has been crippled by the en masse resignation of opposition councillors after their recent decision to resign in protest against political interference in their duties by the government. Harare was plunged into chaos two weeks ago after the withdrawal of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) councillors because of the Zanu PF government's attempts to hijack the municipality's operations. Zanu PF won only one ward during the 2002 elections, while the MDC mopped up all the other 44 seats, including the mayoral post. The MDC controls all other cities and towns, leaving the central government unable to influence events in Harare and other city councils. Because of this, the government has resorted to arbitrary interventions. This has led to the dismissal of popularly elected Harare mayor Elias Mudzuri and a dozen councillors. As a result, the MDC decided to pull out its Harare councillors in protest against the "persistent interference and hijacking of our democratic mandate by the regime".

The council has since been unable to form a quorum to hold critical meetings to deal with emergency issues such the water crisis in the city. The withdrawals have left Harare with only 15 councillors, including some of the MDC who decided to remain, but this is not enough to form a quorum of 16. Confusion at the Harare council, which has been rocked by corruption and incompetence since the mid1990s, has caused advanced decay in the city. Delivery of social services has deteriorated markedly and the capital, once known as the Sunshine City due to its fair weather and cleanliness, is now called the Garbage City. Refuse collection has become extremely erratic, and the council is unable to ensure enough water for the city's 2,5-million residents. Roads have huge potholes and traffic lights are nearly always out of order. Schools and clinics are also declining rapidly due to officials' dereliction and incompetence.

The condition of Harare is seen as emblematic of the state of affairs nationally. Zimbabwe has been gripped by a serious political and economic crisis but Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo claims councils could still function without enough elected councillors. "The remaining councillors will carry on with their duties and will team up with district administrators and the Harare governor and resident minister (Witness Mangwende) to run the city," he said.

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