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Service Delivery Protests by Residents on 10th & 11th May 2005
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
May 15, 2005

The spontaneous protests in Harare's eastern suburbs of Tafara and Mabvuku on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 May included residents of all political persuasions and members of both the MDC and Zanu-PF. The demonstrations were not primarily political but were an expression of the anger and frustration of residents who have suffered from a lack of service delivery for many months.

The heavy handed response of the police to their legitimate grievances was excessive and unprovoked. The alleged looting and destruction of property that allegedly occurred after the demonstration was a direct consequence of the authorities' refusal to engage in dialogue with residents. As such, it is the police and the regime who must bear responsibility for any anarchic acts by undisciplined residents. The physical assaults upon citizens were brutal and intimidatory. The charges laid under Section 17(1)a of the POSA against those arrested carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years and are blatantly at odds with the gravity of the alleged offences. The imprisonment of those detained extended beyond the 48 hour legal limit.

For a modern city like Harare to be unable to provide essential services such as potable water and waste removal to its inhabitants is an indictment of both the political appointees currently occupying Town House and their political masters. To add to the woes of residents, they have been informed by ZESA that there will be no electricity supplies until July following damage to a local transformer. It is intolerable that residents of the city are forced to live like this, fetching water from contaminated streams, burning firewood for heating and cooking and using candles for lighting. If this is the only existence that this regime can offer our citizens, it should step aside and allow others to tackle these crippling problems

If citizens continue to be abused by the who are responsible for the delivery of essential services, if residents continue to be marginalized and denied their democratic rights to elect representatives of their choosing to run the City of Harare, if the human beings living in Zimbabwe continue to be treated with the utmost contempt, the future of our country can only be one of continuing violence and misery.

CHRA calls for

• the suspension of increased rates and charges
• an end to the imposed Makwavarara Commission
• the restoration of a democratically-elected Executive Mayor and Council
• dialogue between residents and Municipal officials to seek a way forward

CHRA did not organize the demonstrations or participate in any way but we recognize and support the inalienable right of citizens to protest against injustice. CHRA salutes those residents who have the courage to stand up to this brutal and repressive regime. Their example should encourage residents in other areas to take action to demand acceptable service delivery.

The Public Order And Security Act (POSA)

Section 17 Public Violence

(1) Any person who, acting in concert with one or more other persons, forcibly-

(a) disturbs the peace, security or order of the public or any section of the public; or
(b) invades the rights of other people;

intending such disturbance or invasion or realising that there is a risk or possibility that such disturbance or invasion may occur, shall be guilty of public violence and liable to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years or both.

Visit the CHRA fact sheet

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