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Residents
reject budget 'revision'; vow not to pay
Combined Harare
Residents Association (CHRA)
May 14, 2009
The membership of the Combined Harare Residents
Association (CHRA) and the residents of Harare have rejected the
recently approved and "revised" 2009 City of Harare
budget. CHRA conducted its May 2009 General Council meeting last
Saturday; where this position was clarified and reaffirmed. The
budget has been rejected on the following basis;
- Despite
the so called revisions, the tariffs remain exorbitant
- After the
so called revisions, the budget continues to prioritize salaries
and administration over tangible service delivery issues like
the acquisition/repair of water treatment plants, sewer reticulation
infrastructure etc. 60, 07 % of the revenue goes to salaries and
admin, while 9,58 % is what is earmarked to repairs and maintenance.
Members attending
the General Council meeting and other residents who called at CHRA
offices expressed their frustration over the failure by the council
to improve service delivery despite collection of revenue in foreign
currency. They vowed not to pay until they begin to see a meaningful
improvement in service delivery. Residents are complaining about
the failure by the council to collect refuse and provide clean water.
The Combined Harare Residents Association has also received similar
reports from sister Residents Associations; of residents rejecting
approved budgets in other Local Authorities.
CHRA attributes
the non participatory nature of the budget formulation process and
general deterioration of service delivery to the following;
- Lack of
capacity on the part of the councilors to conduct participatory
budget formulation process.
- Manipulation
and general interference with council business by the Minister
of Local Government
- Rampant
corruption at Town house; which continuously prejudice the council
of revenue
On another related
matter, CHRA membership registered their utter disappointment with
the City Public Relations Officer Leslie Gwindi's failure
to show up for a ZBC television debate over the budget last Friday
the 8th of May 2009. CHRA hopes the councilors will reign in on
such behavior which is tantamount to refusal to account to the public
and the rate payers. Meanwhile, CHRA vows not to pay council rates
and rents until the above highlighted issues are resolved. CHRA
remains steadfast in its lobby for democratic, transparent local
governance and the provision of quality and affordable municipal
services on a non partisan basis.
Visit the CHRA
fact
sheet
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