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Residents swindled as budget drags on
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
February 23, 2009

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has received reports on the extent to which residents are being defrauded of their hard-earned hard currency. Speaking in yet another highly charged CHRA 'Meet your Councilor' Public meeting held in Glenview Community hall yesterday (22 February 2009), the residents revealed that they are being charged as much as US$ 40-00 for rentals and water. In Glenview and Dzivarasekwa (high density areas), residents who reside in council owned houses are required to fork out between US$ 22-00 and US$25-00 for rent. Water charges range between US$10-00 and US$15-00, even those who reside in Mabvuku where there has not been a drop of tap water, are required to pay a fixed fee of a whopping US$10-00. However, residents do not get payment bills or receipts in hard currency but in ZW$ and God knows at what exchange rate!

In the midst of the current chaos is a council resolution that; the city's finance director shall from time to time review rates as per the inflationary levels. The city of Harare has not approved a budget for the year 2009, neither has the council consulted the residents over the budget which further complicates matters as residents in Dzivarasekwa (last week) and now in Glenview told it to the face of their policy formulators, the councilors; that they will not pay those (hard currency) rates until their demands are met.

The Harare residents' demands are;

• Reversal of decision to charge in hard currency and current tariff structure
• Consultation over budget before approval
• Affordable rates
• Improved and effective service delivery
• Accountability and transparency

CHRA will mobilize the Harare residents to institute socio-legal and other means to recover their money and demand to participate in the 2009 city budget formulation. The Association remains committed to advocating for transparent, effective, affordable and professional municipal service delivery. The Association will continue to proffer the residents the necessary platform for residents to engage with the city's policy formulators and other stakeholders.

Visit the CHRA fact sheet

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