|
Back to Index
CHRA
demands legal reforms from Parliament
Combined Harare
Residents Association (CHRA)
August 25, 2008
The Combined
Harare Residents Association (CHRA) condemns the decision to convene
the 7th Parliament of Zimbabwe. It is the Association's view
that the Parliament should have been convened after the completion
of the inter party talks between ZANU PF and the MDC. Without an
agreement between the two parties, it is very difficult for the
Parliament to conduct its business. None the less, CHRA reasserts
its demands for legal reforms on Zimbabwe's local Governance
system. The following are CHRA's demands:
- The return
of the executive mayoral system
- Constitutionalisation
of Local Governance
- Creation
of autonomous and cooperative system of local Governance
- The reversal
of the ZINWA takeover
- Reform of
the Urban Councils
Act.
The Association
is of the firm view that these reforms will help create a participatory
and democratic system of local governance in Zimbabwe; and therefore
open up space for residents' participation in local Governance.
CHRA reminds the Parliament that local governance is the link between
the central Government and the grass root communities. It is the
vehicle through which the ordinary citizens of this country can
be able to actively participate and influence national policy formulation,
implementation, evaluation and management. Through various reforms
enacted by the previous and successive Parliaments, Zimbabwe's
local Governance system is in a state of collapse as the central
Government has taken over most of the critical powers and functions
of the local authorities.
The final nail to the coffin of Zimbabwe's Local Government
system was the Local
Government Amendment Act which stripped the Mayors of their
executive powers. In essence, this has robbed the residents of the
only platform they could use to participate in national and community
development.
The previous cabinet's authorization of the ZINWA takeover
was yet another blow to the innocent residents. As a direct result
of this irresponsible decision, Harare residents are now suffering
a water crisis while ZINWA seems not to have a solution at all.
The service delivery problems currently bedeviling the once sun
shining city of Harare and indeed all the other towns and communities
are a direct result of Government's decision to usurp the
powers and functions of the local authorities. CHRA remains firm
on its demand for enhanced citizen participation in local governance.
It is on this basis that residents across the breadth and length
of the country rendered their support to the various candidates
who are now Members of the 7th Parliament of Zimbabwe. The Association
realizes and appreciates the significance of the 7th Parliament
of Zimbabwe in fulfilling the residents' desire for a democratic,
people centered local governance system.
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
|
