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City budget, the residents' perspective
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
February 11, 2009

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has learnt with disappointment that the presentation of the long overdue city of Harare budget has to wait for yet another week, allegedly to pave way for the completion of the formation of the Zimbabwean inclusive government. The budget in whose drawing up there was minimal consultation of the residents, a fact that even the council will humbly acknowledge, is expected on Tuesday the 16th of February 2009. The budget will be presented for adoption by the full council. The Harare residents expect the budget to lay down a foundation for improved service delivery, accountability and realization of value for their money.

The residents who are already burdened with exorbitant US$ fees for their children in schools (from primary to tertiary education), pricey and dollarised cost of living, are expecting affordable rates. The council has a challenge of toning down the foreign currency craze that has gripped the country and seen very much exorbitant price tags on goods and services across the country, without taking into account the abject rural and urban poverty bedeviling the Zimbabweans who are by and large still paid in the worthless Zimbabwean dollar. The informal market operators have also been affected by 'Operation Murambatsvina' which literally robbed them of their lifeline.

Residents have also raised the issue of accountability in terms of rates payments. The exchange rates for those that can afford to pay their rates in the ZW$ are not fixed neither are they official. There are fears that the exchange rates may be so high that most residents will find rate payments to be unaffordable. It should also be noted that most Council employees are disgruntled by the fact that they are being remunerated in the ZW$ and there is a possibility that the cashiers can fraudulently exchange the foreign currency received from ratepayers with their personal ZW$; a situation that will not help in the improvement of municipal service delivery. All these loopholes should be looked into before the budget is effected.

Furthermore, Harare residents expect the due budget to outline a recovery programme which will ensure effective municipal (and other) service delivery and affordable rates. CHRA has received reports from some disgruntled residents to the effect that some residents have been told to pay for municipal services in hard currency (amounting to as high as US$34). Despite the ZW$ remaining the legal tender among the array of other currencies usable in Zimbabwe, those offering to pay in Zimbabwean dollars have been turned away at some of the District Offices around the city.

CHRA would like to urge the Harare Council to explore ways and partnerships of expanding their revenue base and to rebuild the city and re-invest in the residents' confidence and pride. The residents of Harare, who have been plagued by the collapsed service delivery system, infrastructural collapse, leadership failure, low standards of living, and diseases among a horde of crises, expect a sigh of relief! CHRA will continue to mobilize the Harare residents and partner with other stakeholders in ensuring affordable and effective municipal (and other) service delivery.

Visit the CHRA fact sheet

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