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Incompetence and misadministration characterises Harare Municipality
Mike Davies, Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
February 13, 2006

The depths to which our city has sunk are clear to all residents and the disingenuous statement by the Municipal spokesman is yet another illustration of the incompetence and misadministration characterising the Municipality. That the Municipality sees fit to state that we can now dump refuse at Pomona is mind-boggling. For them to also claim that people must continue to pay refuse charges in the absence of service delivery is an insult to our residents. Firstly Pomona dumpsite is a public facility which has always been open to those who wish to deliver waste (while of course paying extra for the privilege). Why restrict residents to Saturdays only? Secondly such a statement discriminates against the vast majority of residents who have no access to the funds and vehicles with which to do the Municipality's work. Thirdly why should residents pay for non-existent services? We elected a Mayor and Council to establish policies and implement these on our behalf. That elected council was destroyed by Chombo for political ends. In the absence of an elected council, there is no accountability at Town House. Where are the audited accounts as required by the Urban Councils Act?

Harare does not have a Council and the Mirror report merely serve to legitimise the illegal Commission by disguising its true nature - an appointed gang of zanu-pf functionaries intended to usurp our democratic rights while extracting as much loot as possible from the rates and charges. The Makwavarara Commission has no mandate to act as Council and the failure of the High Court to deal with CHRA's legal challenge (filed in June 2005) is a clear indication that the courts will collaborate with the regime in subverting our statutory rights to elect a mayor and council. That the Commission is an enemy of the people is very clear from its assaults upon vendors and residents last year. Its continuing theft of our money to pay the illegal commissioners and irregularly appointed staff such as Mhende is consistent with its mission.

The truth of the matter is that the State has been eviscerated by zanu-pf and all that remains is a hollow shell. Citizens should not be fooled by the mere presence of institutions like government, the police, local government authorities, the courts, etc. Zanu-pf has subverted all State institutions to serve its own ends. Citizens should stop financing their oppressors and seek autonomous actions that will allow them to live outside the occupied State until legitimate democratic government is restored at all levels. Those who continue to pay rates and charges are collaborating with the Commission, albeit perhaps unwillingly, but collaborating all the same.

Instead of using your resources to do the Municipality's work for them, take your rubbish to your nearest District Office and dump it there instead.

*Mike Davies is Chairman of the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)

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