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Town House must be restored to its rightful owners
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
February 05, 2006

SERVICE delivery has been appalling. Although Mbare Musika was re-opened, there are still concerns being raised by farmers and vendors. They are mostly worried about the new rates being charged by the City of Harare to enter and do business in the market.

Dialogue must be promoted to ensure that the situation at all the market places does not become hostile to the City of Harare and the farmers and the vendors, on the other hand.

The 2006 budget for Harare would be implemented despite our objections as residents. What this implies is that we have to step up the pressure on the local authority to respond to our demands for accountability and improved service delivery.

The same situation prevailed in Chinhoyi where the municipality and its residents are locked up in a dispute on the proposed budget. The residents accuse the municipality of neglecting to consult them before drafting the 2006 budget. Now the residents want Minister Chombo to wield the axe on the council for alleged failure to deliver.

Matters surrounding municipal budgets should be dealt with honesty and transparency on the part of Chombo’s ministry and the local authority. This would enhance trust among major stakeholders. An imposed budget breeds suspicion. There would always be difficulties in implementing the budget, whose contents ignore the concerns of residents.

The situation in Harare remains sorry. Refuse has not been collected in all major public places despite the imposing threat of another cholera outbreak. Burst sewer pipes remain un-repaired, posing serious health threats on the city’s population. The water quality being distributed to Harare residents is dirty. A department report has confirmed this. We are quaking in our boots.

As CHRA, our role is to monitor service delivery in Harare and keep residents informed of what is happening around them. We demand that service delivery in all parts of Harare should improve if the City of Harare expects cooperation from residents.

People pay for tangible services and not imaginary service, as is the case.

As residents we need a committed Municipality that listens to our concerns. Refuse must be collected in time. Burst sewer and water pipes must be repaired as a matter of urgency. Grass cutting along our roads must be expedited to save our children from avoidable muggings and unnecessary road accidents.

Visit the CHRA fact sheet

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