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Typhoid cases increase in Mabvuku -Tafara - City Watch
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
March 19, 2010

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Typhoid cases increase in Mabvuku -Tafara

Cases of typhoid are on the increase in Mabvuku and Tafara as more residents succumb to the deadly disease. The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) visited the Mabvuku Poly Clinic and talked to some of the residents who were seeking treatment. The nurse in charge at the clinic declined to talk to the CHRA officials and also refused to shed light on the statistics of the residents who have been treated so far. However, one of the health workers who requested anonymity said that about 260 residents have been affected.

The typhoid outbreak, that has claimed five lives so far, has unsettled the Mabvuku-Tafara residents who have said that the outbreak could go out of control if the City of Harare and the Government do not step up their efforts to contain the outbreak. Local HIV/AIDS support group representatives who talked to CHRA pointed out that HIV positive residents have also become vulnerable to the disease. School children, however, have been the most affected.

The City of Harare has been distributing fliers to raise awareness on typhoid and Mabvuku clinic is also conducting typhoid tests for whole families who suspect that they might have contracted the disease. At the time of visit, an ambulance on standby was parked at the clinic to ferry critical patients to Beatrice Infectious diseases hospital.

Residents of Mabvuku-Tafara have appreciated the diligence with which the City of Harare is dealing with the typhoid outbreak. Residents also acknowledged the work that has been done by CHRA in disseminating information on hygiene. Other organisations that were acknowledged include Oxfam GB, UNICEF, IOM and other community based organisations who are working to promote hygiene in the area.

Kadoma Town Finance Director on the run

The Finance Director for Kadoma Town Council, Alois Mushambi, is on the run after his corrupt activities were unwittingly revealed by one of his 'customers'.

CHRA is reliably informed that Mushambi went AWOL in early February this year after the man to whom he had sold an unknown number of residential plots (name supplied) visited the Kadoma Municipal offices to see him with the intention of paying up the remaining balance on the plots. The man however, found Mushambi in a management meeting and he sought help from one of the Councilors who innocently advised him to see one of the cashiers. Upon explaining his case to one of the Cashiers, it was discovered that the man did not have any agreement of sale documents to support his payment although he had two receipts of previous payments that amounted to US$15 000. The man revealed that he had paid the money to the Finance Director who then gave him the receipts as proof of payment and that he now wanted to pay US$8 000 that was outstanding. However, other departments had no idea of any Council plots being sold.

Further investigations into the matter revealed that the two receipts that were possessed by the man actually matched the serial numbers of the receipts that had been missing from Council's Receipt Book for some time.

The Finance Director went missing after discovering that the issue had come to light. He tendered his resignation by fax from Namibia on the 12th of February 2010. The Town Clerk, Mr. M. Dondo, admitted during a full Council meeting (held on 16 February 2010) that he had been suspicious of the Finance Director's conduct and had been investigating him secretly for some time.

Reports from the Greater Kadoma Residents Association have revealed that the Finance Director has actually demanded an exit package and the Town Clerk seems to be in support of his demands. This is in spite of the fact that Mushambi swindled Council of more than US$15 000. Residents suspect that the Town Clerk is also not entirely innocent in matters of corruption. The matter was reported to the police but nothing has been done. Mushambi was once reported to have come back from Namibia and was actually seen at one of the shopping centres in Kadoma but the police did not arrest him.

Hwange residents label Councilors representing Hwange Colliery 'a liability'

Residents of Hwange have raised concerns over the Councilors that represent wards covered by the Hwange Colliery whom they described as 'a liability'. These allegations have been sparked by the fact that Hwange Colliery workers who live in Colliery Company houses (also called the Concession area) do not pay rates to Council, as the houses they live in are not council owned. Even residents who are not Colliery employees but are renting the Colliery houses have not been paying rates to the Local Authority. However, this is despite the fact that the Concession area has been amalgamated to the rest of the Hwange Town and is now under the Administration of the Town Council.

The amalgamation saw the Concession area being represented by Councilors as well but Hwange Colliery has continued to operate as an autonomous entity. However, Councilors who represent the Concession area are getting allowances from the Town Council although the residents from the wards they represent do not pay rates to Council. A representative from the Hwange Human Rights Youth Forum, Fidelis Chuma, said that residents were not happy with this arrangement as it was depleting Council resources. Residents have said that Hwange Colliery should also make financial contributions to the Town Council since its Councilors are getting allowances from the Town Council.

Makuvise Village residents speak on service delivery

Housing stands allocations

The residents of Makuvise Village in Buhera have raised concerns over the allocation of housing stands in their community which they say is being heavily politicized. Residents complained that the allocations are discriminatory as only married people are getting land. Furthermore, the allocations are being done on partisan basis where Councilors have been receiving directives from the Minister of Local Government and the Provincial Governor, Mr. Manyonda. The residents said that stands should be allocated according to need and not on partisan and marital basis.

Water

The boreholes that have been drilled in Makuvise are few and some residents have had to walk for long distances just to get water. The women are the most affected. Girl scholars usually attend school after walking for long distances to get water and this is affecting their performance. There have been cases of women and girls being raped on the way to the water points. Some of the women have now resorted to nearby unprotected water sources as they fear being raped if they travel for long distances. Schools are also failing to access clean water because there are no boreholes drilled at schools. Residents have resolved to seek help from NGOs as the local authority seems to be failing to address this issue.

Health

Residents have alleged that the Council clinics in the area, especially at Murambinda Growth point are failing to deliver quality health services as some of the medication meant for clinic stocks is finding its way to private surgeries. Residents have said this is an act of corruption by some medical staff at these clinics who illegally smuggle medical drugs to private surgeries. It is not yet clear whether the responsible authorities have been notified of these allegations.

Gweru

The residents of Mkoba, especially Villages 1 to 11 have raised concerns over the daily water cuts that they are experiencing. Residents have also complained that the water that is being pumped by the Gweru City Council is not clean and they doubt if the Council is making any efforts to purify the water. The water is usually brownish in colour and leaves significant residue when put in a container and allowed to set.

CHRA is committed to advocating for good and transparent local governance as well lobbying for quality and affordable municipal services on a non-partisan basis.

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