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CHRA press statement on the Residents' March and press conference
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
October 02, 2009

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) is conducting a peaceful march on Monday the 5th of October 2009. Protesters are marching from corner 1st street and Gorge Silundika at 11 00 hrs into Inez Terrez and then Julius Nyerere up to Town House. They will be submitting a petition to His Worship the Mayor of the City of Harare at about 1150 hrs. The Mayor is expected to address the protesters. The police have since cleared the march and are expected to help keep peace and order. The march is a protest against the following issues;

• Exorbitant Rates and other levies being charged by the City Council
• The fact that we have been paying the Rates but there is no proportional improvement of service delivery in Harare.
• Poor prioritization of issues by the City Council as manifested in the recent purchase of three executive cars at a cost of over US$300 000.00 yet service delivery remains very poor and non existent in some areas.
• Demanding the right to participate in the 2010 City budget formulation and that the views of the residents must actually be reflected in the final budget. This is particularly in terms of tariffs and the prioritization of budget line items.

A post march press conference will be conducted at the CHRA offices (3rd Floor Exploration House, Corner 5th street and Robert Mugabe). Journalists from various media houses have since been invited to attend this press conference. The press conference will be addressed by the CHRA leadership, and is expected to clarify the key issues which the residents are protesting against. The press address will also explain CHRA's roadmap concerning the manner in which the Association in collaboration with other Residents Associations in the National Residents Associations Consultative Forum intends to confront service delivery challenges bedeviling the City and the entire country as well as the local government reform agenda. All journalists, civic society activists and leaders as well as other stakeholders are welcome to attend and participate at this press conference. For any communications with respect to the protest and the press conference, kindly contact the CHRA Advocacy and Information department on 0912 653 074, 0913 042 981 or 04 705 114. CHRA remains steadfast in demanding and defending the principles and practice of democratic, good local governance in Harare.

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