Back to Index

Statement on the unlawful situation at Town House
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
June 16, 2006

On 9 June 2006, the third term of the Makwavarara Commission expired. The failure of the mugabe regime to re-appoint the commission or to hold municipal elections means that there is no authority (legitimate or otherwise) running the affairs of Harare. The Supreme Court ruled in 2002 that such commissions are clearly intended as stopgap measures to administer an urban area in the absence of a functioning elected council. They are not meant to be used to deny citizens their democratic rights.

Harare is the second-largest public enterprise in Zimbabwe. It has revenues in excess of 30 billion dollars a day, income generated from rates and charges illegally levied by an illegal authority. Where is that money going? We have had no audited accounts for several years now so we have no way of knowing how much money has been stolen. However the blatant theft of our resources by Makwavarara was recently exposed when she obtained a house at a fraction of its true value. She was not fired and prosecuted but merely asked to pay a bit more. It is clear that Chombo will protect his servant for as long as she is useful to him. Makwavarara has headed a commission that has held power for 18 months or three terms during which she has presided over brutal repressive attacks upon our people, the destruction of the informal sector, the demolition of a large percentage of our city's housing stock, the blatant abuse of municipal resources for personal gain and no doubt many other crimes that will only be revealed when Harare and Zimbabwe return to the rule of law and these thieves are prosecuted.

The regime's disregard for the law comes as no surprise to the Combined Harare Residents Association which has been battling to overcome the lawlessness prevailing at Town House since June 2005 when the commission's term of office was illegally extended for six months. The High Court in its wisdom refused to protect the interests of residents and address the issue. We therefore will only approach the courts, not in the pursuit of justice, but to create a record for the future and to demonstrate the failure of the judiciary to protect citizens from a rapacious executive.

CHRA remains committed to the rule of law but it is clear that we have now exhausted all conventional remedies. We therefore believe that there is no option left but to engage in civil disobedience and mass action. As the first step, we therefore call upon our members and all residents of Harare to boycott Municipal rates, charges and facilities whenever possible to deny financial resources to the thieves who occupy Town House and their political masters who enjoy the fruits of your money everyday while our city falls apart. Refuse to pay any rates or other charges. Report any attempts at intimidation by municipal officials or others to CHRA at 011 612 860 or at the CHRA office at 103 Daventry House.

We also call upon residents to engage in dialogue with their neighbours and friends to engage in other acts of protest to send a clear message to the regime that this is our city and we will no longer tolerate their abuse of our rights and their theft of our money and resources. If you refuse is not collected, dump it at the District Office. If your water is cut off by officials acting under illegal orders, contact CHRA for advice.

Visit the CHRA fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP