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CHRA
urges residents to reject the astronomical 2009 city budget
Combined Harare
Residents Association (CHRA)
March 06, 2009
The Combined
Harare Residents Association (CHRA) distinctly urges all residents
and other consumers of the City's services to plainly reject
the US$185 million dollar city budget presented and approved by
the council on the 4th of March 2009. The council's technocrats
and finance committee, unfortunately backed by the councilors, in
sheer disregard of the best practice budget formulation and the
process stipulated by the Urban Councils Act (29:15) Section 219
(consultation of residents) drew-up a multi-million United States
dollar budget. The budget designates a whopping 55% (US$ 101,585
m) for salaries and allowances. It is therefore not surprising that
the lowest paid council employee is allegedly earning more than
US$290 and more than US$100 million (water and sewer charges not
included) of the projected income is to be rated on the poverty-
stricken resident.
Below is a bird's
eye view of the budget:
| Service |
US$ |
ZAR |
Area |
| Burial
fees |
US$150
US$200
US$250 |
1 500 Rand
2 000 Rand
2 500 Rand |
Area B
Area A
Area A+ |
| Refuse
collection (once a week) |
US$10
US$12
US$20
|
100 Rand
120 Rand
200 Rand
|
High density
Low density
Commercial |
| Ambulance
fees |
US$10 |
100 Rand |
Municipal
area |
| Vehicle
license fees (light motor) |
US$50 |
500 Rand |
|
| Vehicle
license fees (heavy class 2/1) |
US$135 |
1 350 Rand |
|
| Clinic
fees |
US$10 (Adult)
US$5 (Child)
|
100 Rand
50 Rand
|
|
| Hospital
fees |
US$20 (Adult)
US$10 (Child)
|
200 Rand
100 Rand
|
|
| Maternity |
US$35 |
350 Rand |
|
| Housing
rentals |
US$109
US$36
US$26
|
1 090
Rand
360 Rand
260 Rand
|
Kuwadzana
(four roomed)
Glen Norah
Dzivarasekwa |
The city fathers agreed
on a four day consultation of the residents, from the 5th to the
8th of March 2009. This period is too short and it is reflective
of the fact that the City of Harare is not sincere on the issue
of consulting residents but they just want residents to rubber stamp
the budget. The process is flawed, the rates are exorbitant and
the budget is a mere charade that ought to and will surely receive
due outrage and rejection by the residents.
The residents of Harare
have been plagued by the collapsed service delivery system, infrastructural
collapse, leadership failure, poverty, and disease among a horde
of crises; they cannot afford the exorbitant rates. The budget must
ensure betterment of municipal service delivery while the rates
remain affordable and reflecting the true socio-economic strata.
CHRA will continue to
mobilize the Harare residents and partner with other stakeholders
in ensuring affordable and effective municipal (and other) service
delivery and residents' participation in the local governance.
Visit the CHRA
fact
sheet
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