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City
of Harare must heed Minister's directive to reconnect water supplies
Combined Harare
Residents Association (CHRA)
August 06, 2009
The Combined Harare Residents
Association (CHRA) would like to urge the Harare Mayor, His Worship,
Muchadeyi Masunda to heed to Minister Sipepa Nkomo's directive
to stop all water disconnections and reconnect supplies to those
residents whose supplies had already been disconnected. CHRA has
welcomed the Minister's directive which has come timely as
there were now fears of another cholera outbreak due to the water
disconnections.
The Association
would also like to put it forward to the Mayor of Harare that the
Council should not charge residents reconnection fees because the
water disconnection exercise was illegal. The Cabinet made a standing
decision that water should not be disconnected as the exercise was
and still is tantamount to health hazards like cholera. The residents
of Harare have hardly recovered from the cholera
outbreak which claimed hundreds of lives and the city is still
experiencing isolated cases of the epidemic in some High density
areas like Kuwadzana, Highfield, Dzivarasekwa and Glen View. It
is also clear that the cholera epidemic was a result of the prolonged
water cuts that ensued in Harare since 2006. It is a sign of lack
of social responsibility and disregard for human life for the City
of Harare to insist on disconnecting water to residents for non-payment.
Moreover, the move to disconnect water is in direct conflict with
the national policy that was adopted by Cabinet that water should
not be disconnected.
Furthermore, residents
have argued that the amounts of money being demanded by the City
of Harare are exorbitant and not commensurate with the quality and
amount of water that is being supplied to residents. CHRA is cognizant
of the fact that Council needs money in order to improve service
delivery and that residents should honour their obligation to pay
bills but there is a need for the City of Harare to consider the
grievances of residents so that a good working relationship can
be built. The Association appreciates the efforts that the Council
is making to improve social service delivery. However, it is critical
for Council not to use confrontational approaches towards residents
as this further damages the already shaky relationship that exists
between residents and Council. CHRA believes in dialogue and consultation
so that all stakeholders are clear on what is happening. The principle
of dialogue also reduces chances of misunderstandings, mistrust
and confrontations. CHRA was happy to know that Council was planning
on engaging residents in consultations regarding issues of rates
and service delivery. However, the meetings seem to be going at
a slower pace than what residents anticipated. It was also confusing
for residents to receive letters of final demand followed by water
disconnections soon after the Council had indicated a willingness
to engage in dialogue through consultative ward meetings; a situation
that has given residents the impression that Council is not serious
about engaging in dialogue and consultations.
Meanwhile, CHRA
is working in partnership with the Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights to help residents should the City of
Harare decide to substantiate its threats. The Association urges
residents to remain calm and refuse to be intimidated. CHRA will
continue to advocate for good, transparent and accountable local
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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