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You can have your Makwavarara, Chombo
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
December 06, 2006

CHRA has taken great pains to follow due process in our efforts to restore the rights of our resident. We have pleaded with the Judiciary to protect our rights in the face of a rapacious Executive. We have petitioned Parliament to uphold their laws and hold the Executive to account. None of these steps have produced any positive outcome. We therefore feel that we are entitled, even obligated, as citizens, to engage in civil disobedience - (Michael Davies, CHRA Chairperson).

Daily Mirror (Thursday 30 November 2006)
Chombo was quoted saying: "It is beginning to appear that Harare has turned around and treading in the right direction. The commission has to maintain the pace and not to loose focus. It is more focused than any other council in the last eight years. They have a vision of what they want to do and how they want to do it."

The principle of re-appointing commissions beyond the mandatory nine months has been ruled illegal by the High Court and the Supreme Court (Makarau’s judgement in Case Number HC12862/00 of Christopher Magwenzi Zvobgo versus the City of Harare. Supreme Court judge Justice Wilson Sandura in the case of Lottie Stevenson versus the Minister of Local Government and others in case SC 38/02 and High Court judge Justice Hungwe’s judgement in case Number HH 210/2001 of CHRA and another versus the Registrar-General) have made similar judgements.

CHRA Response: "We ask God to forgive Chombo for he has two eyes but cannot see. He has two ears but refuses to listen. If Chombo chooses to be confrontational with Harare residents, we are prepared to give him hell. There are more than 200 heaps of uncollected garbage in each residential area. CHRA receives an average of 15 reports of burst sewer pipes in each of the high-density suburbs. City district offices are taking too long to attend to residents’ concerns and are powerless.

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