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CHRA report of the public meeting held in Mufakose
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
July 29, 2006

Chairing: Mrs Elizabeth Sibanda Ward 35 coordinator
CHRA Representatives in attendance: Elimon Taundi, Chairperson Waterfalls Residents Committee Monica Chokuwa, Ward Coordinator Kambuzuma and Member Information and Publicity Israel Mabhoo, Acting Chairperson CHRA Blessing Masunda, Legal Intern Loreen Mupasiri, Information Intern

Key issues and resolutions

1. Refuse collection
2. High water charges
3. Peaceful demonstrations against illegal commission
4. ZESA power cuts
6. Demand for mayoral and council elections in Harare.

The meeting began at 2pm with Mrs Sibanda from Ward 35 giving the introductions. She welcomed people to the meeting.

Mr Dube, Ward 36 representative outlined the problems that the residents of Mufakose are currently facing. Uncollected refuse and unclean drinking water are some of the major problems that he said were affecting residents.

The Mufakose District Officer's representative was the next speaker. Residents asked him several questions but he failed to provide satisfactory answers. Residents were told to forward their questions to "relevant authorities".

He admitted that the local office operated under strict instructions from Town House. Residents were, however, told to pay for their water bills using the May rates.

Elimon Taundi, the Chairperson of Waterfalls Residents' Committee also addressed the Mufakose audience. He said them that the current rates imposed on them by Town House were unaffordable. Taundi denounced the government for its reluctance to hold mayoral and council elections in Harare and Chombo's continued support of the illegal Commission.

Israel Mabhoo, CHRA Acting Chairman was the next speaker. He talked about the unlawful rubble levy which the City of Harare charged on residents yet there has been no significant rubble collection to date.

Addressing the same gathering of more than 80 people, Mabhoo denounced the exorbitant water charges from ZINWA pointing out that ZINWA did not invest anything in the construction of water infrastructure in Harare.

He pointed out that Morton Jeffrey and Lake Chivero were constructed using ratepayers' money. ZINWA, therefore, has no right to increase water charges. Moreover, ZINWA was supposed to inform residents about its decision before implementation. "If ZINWA cannot reduce these unjustified charges, we will dig our own wells. Mvura kuvanhu"

Mabhoo also said that there is a lot of corruption and robbery at Town House. Residents are forced to pay a fine of $500 000 for shrunk bill statements. This practice shows that the City of Harare is eager to rob the already impoverished residents.

Mabhoo said the City of Harare should account for the refuse fees that have not been put to use since refuse is not being collected.

The Acting Chairperson also pointed out that Town House should not charge grave yard fees because land is a natural resource. He said that no one plans to die hence the municipality should not try to make money out of such unfortunate happenings.

"We are going to bury our dead for free at Mbudzi Cemetery (Granville). If they want to dispatch riot police, we will meet there and we will leave them to bury those bodies."

He urged the youths to be involved and to be at the forefront in the struggle to reclaim the City of Harare. He promised residents that CHRA will assist in identifying people with problems with issues of title deeds problems and link them with people or organisations who can provide assistance.

Plenary
Most residents exhibited their lack of understanding of the procedures they need to follow when applying for title deeds under the 'rent to buy' scheme. Blessing Masunda, CHRA's legal intern explained the legal processes that residents have to follow.

She said residents had to first approach the District Office for verification of their rent or rates status and establish whether or not they have fully paid the purchase price. From there they indicate and fill in a form applying for title deeds. They then go to the Surveyor-General's Office where the applicant/ the resident hires a surveyor to survey the property in question and produce a diagram showing the property boundaries.

These diagrams and the application form are then taken to the Department of Housing and Community Services at the Municipality's Head Office at Remembrance Drive in Mbare. At this office the applicant pays an administration fee, currently pegged at $2, 5 million.

The documentation is then taken to Conveyancors who then effect the transfer into the applicant's name. Conveyancors are lawyers dealing with the transfer of immovable property. One everything has been done to satisfaction, the lawyers then write to Remembrance Drive informing them that the transfer has been effected and they no longer own the said property. The applicant pays for all expenses.

Residents said that they are tired of references. They want senior officials from Town House to attend public meetings and not their representatives who refer residents' queries to absentee seniors.

CHRA Secretariat was encouraged by residents to increase information dissemination conscientise residents of CHRA existence. Residents are willing to participate in CHRA activities.

Some residents pointed out that council created so many departments because they want to find ways to continue stealing from residents.

Residents resolved to take the following course of action;

• Residents resolved to go to the D. O's and dump their refuse there including sewerage.
• House owners agreed to march to Town House to present their grievances to Makwavarara. "Let's go to Makwavarara because Makwavarara does not want to come to us"

The meeting ended at 4.30pm with closing prayer form one of the residents.

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