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City of Harare's Finance Director resigns amid reports of rampant corruption - Weekly City Watch
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
May 31, 2010

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The City of Harare's Finance Director, Cosmos Zvikaramba, has tendered his resignation amid reports of his involvement in shoddy and corrupt deals during his tenure of office. Zvikaramba, who was infamous for taking directives from Minister Chombo instead of being accountable to his superiors at Town House, resigned after having taken official leave for three months.

Sources within Council have revealed that Zvikaramba cited that he was no longer wanted in Council as his reason for resigning. It has been revealed that Zvikaramba was not happy with the re-appointment of the City Treasurer, Mr. Mubvumbi. And felt that he was no longer of any use as most of his duties were now being done by Mubvumbi. However, Councilors who spoke to CHRA said that Zvikaramba had resigned because he was afraid that his corrupt activities would be exposed, especially after the release of the land audit report. There are allegations that the former Finance Director appended his signature for the unprocedural release of money from Council coffers for unclear purposes. The Councilors also revealed that Zvikaramba was implicated in the cattle scandal of 2008 where more than 150 Council cattle went missing. One of the Councilors actually admitted that Council had made a resolution to fire him a long time ago but Minister Chombo had insisted that he stays.

Meanwhile, there are reports that the Council made a resolution to fire the Town Clerk but the Mayor, Mr Muchadeyi Masunda is reluctant to effect the decision of the full Council. A Councillor representing one of the wards in Mabvuku (name withheld) said that the Council had unearthed too many cases of corruption in which the Town Clerk was involved and hence the decision to relieve him of his duties.

The Council had at one time proposed to suspend the Town Clerk and carry out investigations into the accusations that were being laid against him but Minister Chombo rescinded the decision.

Residents have expressed deep concern at the continued in-fighting that is taking place at Town House; a situation which they say is compromising effective service delivery. Residents have said that the Minister of Local Government should stop interfering with the work of Councilors. Those who have been implicated in corrupt activities should be investigated without partiality so that they can face disciplinary action if they are found on the wrong side of the law.

Belvedere

There were no water cuts during the past week. Water bills are ranging from $40 to $50 a month.

Households in Lincoln Green went for three days without electricity and those close to the Harare Show Grounds experienced power cuts from Monday to Wednesday. The power cuts usually occur from 6am to 2pm in the afternoon. Electricity bills are ranging from $200 to $300. Residents of this area have said that the do not understand the criteria that is being used by ZESA to charge electricity bills because the charges are exorbitant.

Refuse collection was done on Thursday

Milton Park

Milton park experienced power cuts on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday during the week for at least 3 hours, the power cuts were usually in the morning from 6am to 10am .In areas near ST Giles Hospital the water pressure is low at night for example Divine road .

Cassa Banana

Cassa Banana has been in existence for over ten years with a population of over 500 residents. The situation in this area calls for urgent attention as it is a ticking health time bomb. The Harare City Council continues to collect its dues from residents of this area despite the fact that there are no basic social services to make it fit for human inhabitation.

The area does not have an automatic sewer system and they use a sceptic tank which has to be drained when full. However, the City Council has not been draining the septic tank for two years saying that it does not have the resources. Residents have had to manually drain raw human waste on their own using buckets and without protective clothing.

There are about four public toilets in this area which are no longer functioning properly because the septic tank is full. Sometimes human waste overflows into the toilets and bathrooms. Residents get water from a central point at one of the toilets. They receive individual bill statements and they make their payments at Kuwadzana district office. There are no boreholes in the area and water supplies have been disconnected due to fault at Inkomo barracks.

The Residents of Cassa Banana have said that it is only a matter of time before they are wiped away by diseases like Cholera and other hygiene related diseases. Cases of diarrhoea are on the increase. What makes matters worse is the fact that Cassa Banana does not have a clinic and residents have to travel to Norton, which is more than 30km away to seek medical attention

Epworth

Residents still in contention over town budget

Residents of Epworth have expressed their disappointment at the way the Council is disregarding their views by implementing a budget that was rejected by residents. The 2010 budget formulated by the Epworth Town Council was rejected by residents, upon which Minister Chombo gave a directive that the Council should use the 2009 budget. However, the Council went ahead to effect the 2010 budget in disregard of the residents' wishes. The residents took the Municipality to Court over the issues but the case has not been resolved to date. Residents have pointed out that the service charges are too high and beyond their affordability. Moreover, the Epworth Municipality is also failing to deliver the services for which it is demanding money; a situation that has greatly strained relations between the Municipality and residents.

The water situation is bad, as water supplies are still erratic in most areas. Only Makomo Extension receives constant water supplies and the rest of the suburbs depend on borehole water. Women and girl children are the most affected, as they have to wake up in the early hours of the morning to fetch water for their families. Sometimes the queues at the boreholes are so long that residents have to spend long hours queuing for water.

Most parts of Epworth do not get electricity supplies except for areas like Munyuki and Makoni Shopping Centre .Residents use firewood as an alternative whereby one needs a $1 to cook meals for the whole day.

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