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Important
notice to residents who have received letters of final demand
Combined Harare
Residents Association (CHRA)
July 30, 2009
Following the
City of Harare's move to threaten residents who have failed
to pay bills with legal action, the Combined Harare Residents Association
(CHRA) has approached its partners; the Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) to get advice on how best this
issue can be dealt with.
We would like
to advise all residents who have received such letters to please
bring copies to our offices in the city centre so that they can
be forwarded to the lawyers in preparation for possible legal proceedings.
Meanwhile, ZLHR is drafting a standard letter in response to the
final demand letters and CHRA will do mass production of the letter
for distribution to residents. Four copies will be produced for
each complainant; one will be submitted to the City of Harare, one
to the Ministry of Local Government, One to ZLHR and CHRA will retain
the other copy for its records.
Meanwhile, residents should not pay money for services that they
have not received. The following reasons have been put forward in
support of this position;
- The Council
has breached its implied contract with residents whereupon Council
has failed to provide services that are commensurate with the
charged rates.
- The rates
that are being charged by the Council are not affordable to residents
- Residents
are entitled at law and have a legal right to administrative action
that is lawful, reasonable and fair. The City Council's
billing system is highly inconsistent and this has resulted in
residents being unfairly charged exorbitant amounts of money.
CHRA will continue
to fight for the residents' cause and advocate for good, transparent
and accountable governance as well as lobbying for quality and affordable
municipal (and other) services on a non partisan basis.
Visit the CHRA
fact
sheet
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