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ZIMBABWE:
Rescuing Harare
IRIN News
November
23, 2004
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=44267
JOHANNESBURG - In
a bid to end the crisis in the delivery of social services, a new commission
will be appointed to run Zimbabwe's capital, Harare.
The official Herald newspaper reported on Monday that the commission would
assume its duties within 21 days, effectively replacing the embattled
Harare City Council. Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo was quoted
as saying that an immediate task for the commission would be to formulate
a workable budget for the city.
Harare-based economist Denis Nikisi said: "It is quite important that
this new outfit has adequate financial backing because the commissioners
will be expected to turn around the city's recent misfortunes. They will
have to sort out a myriad of problems, like water shortages, potholes
on the streets and the erratic electricity supply. It is also important
that they get the right people, with appropriate experience and skills
for the job."
Nikisi welcomed the establishment of the commission but said it would
only be effective if it were well resourced. One of the long-standing
complaints of the Harare City Council was that it was expected to perform
its tasks with a grossly inadequate budget.
Earlier this year, the ruling ZANU-PF party assumed virtual control of
the capital after the council, dominated the opposition Movement for Democratic
Change (MDC), resigned in protest over what they said was "undue interference"
by the government. Executive mayor Elias Mudzuri, an MDC member suspended
in 2002 for alleged mismanagement, was eventually fired from his post
this year.
The council has been left with just eight officials to run the city. "Urgent"
action was necessary to prevent a further decline in social service delivery
said Mike Davies, chairman of the Combined Harare Residents Association,
but the appointment of a new body was "not the answer" to the city's woes.
"It has been reported that nominations would be accepted for posts within
the council, but so far none of the major stakeholders, including the
residents' association, have been called on to participate in such a process.
This kind of disregard would lead to the commission lacking legitimacy
among residents," Davies told IRIN.
He claimed that the city's current difficulties stemmed from the lack
of transparency and accountability by local councillors. "Previously,
each Wednesday residents could go to Town House and air their grievances
about how the city is being run - that has all come to and end. There
is no room for dialogue," he remarked.
Living conditions in Zimbabwe's urban centres have deteriorated as the
country faces its worst economic crisis. Over the past year service delivery
in Harare has plummeted and recurrent breaks in the water supply have
forced some residents to use river water, raising concerns over possible
outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
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