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Residents castigate ZINWA, Government over the cholera catastrophe
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
November 17, 2008

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) is collecting information on the cholera scourge that is currently bedeviling the city of Harare; as part of the Association's efforts to expose the true story. The Association and the residents of Harare are irked by the state's deliberate plot to cover up on the magnitude of the catastrophe. The state has currently sealed off the cholera control centers (Beatrice Infectious Diseases center and the Budiriro polyclinic) from inspection particularly by civil society organisations, Independent media and NGOs, while the state media continues to downplay the death toll by disseminating conservative figures. CHRA and indeed the residents of the city of Harare hold the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) and the de-facto Government wholly responsible for the cholera crisis as well as the deaths and general suffering of the people as a result of this catastrophe.

The Combined Harare Residents Association warned the Government and ZINWA of a possible health crisis if urgent measures would not be put in place to effectively deal with the water crisis that gripped Harare since the beginning of 2008. However the Government through the Ministry of water and infrastructural development vowed that there was no going back on the ZINWA decision. CHRA, the residents of Harare and the citizens of Zimbabwe attribute the water crisis and the subsequent cholera catastrophe to the reckless and irresponsible decision by the Cabinet (or rather ZANU PF politburo) to authorize the ZINWA takeover of water and sewer management from the City of Harare, yet ZINWA lacks both the financial and technical capacity to manage such a mammoth task. For instance, ZINWA has got no board in place, while the institution has been failing to finance its own wage bill as well as procure protective clothing for its workforce.

For quite some time ZINWA has been struggling to procure water treatment chemicals as well as repair burst sewer pipes. On so many occasions, ZINWA has been shifting the blame to the Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company (ZEDC) as well as the physical/geographical terrain for the chronic water shortages in Harare. Indeed CHRA and the broader population of the residents of Harare as well as all the affected and infected citizens of this country expressed their utter dismay at the state's propaganda suggesting that the Government has intensified the "war against cholera" as the RBZ and the Civil Protection Unit is roped in.

We the residents and citizens of this country wonder if we have to die first for an institution that claims to be our Government to intervene and protect us? We wonder how many of us will have to die first before our supposed Government act!!

Moreover the Association is sad over the fact that, despite the state media having reported that the RBZ has given a substantial amount of money to ZINWA, the situation remains dire as water remains scarce and more people die of cholera.

The Combined Harare Residents Association declares that the residents will never watch by the wayside as the Government imposes a death sentence on them. CHRA will continue with its mass protests against ZINWA and the Government. The Association in conjunction with other fellow civic society movements will litigate against ZINWA (as an institution), ZINWA Management (in their individual capacity) and the Government (as an institution) and the relevant Ministers, both in their official and personal capacity. CHRA is also mobilizing support for the residents in the form of clean water provision and the supply of water treatment tablets. The Association is also conducting public awareness campaigns, disseminating information on the control and management of cholera.

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