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City Updates
Harare Residents Trust
January 03, 2011

Mayor donates to street children on New Year's eve

The Mayor of Harare Muchadeyi Masunda took time off his busy schedule to donate food and clothing to nearly 70 street children during a function held for the street children at Town House on 31 December 2010.

The ceremony, attended by senior council personnel, saw street children, deprived of family love and a safe living environment taking to the podium to give moving testimonies of their lives on the street. Speaker after speaker from the packed auditorium spoke of how they have faced constant harassment and abuse by the police, yet the majority yearned to be loved. One of the men living on the street left everyone present surprised as he spoke confidently and fluently in the English Language, expressing his gratitude to the Mayor of Harare for remembering the underprivileged during this time of the year, when most people are busy enjoying their lives, and spending their money on luxuries. From the perspective of the Harare Residents' Trust, this action demonstrated that while there are bad things happening in council, the Mayor of the Capital City has a heart for the poor and vulnerable of our community. The HRT commends such noble efforts and urges residents of Harare to take time of their busy schedules to look around them and do something that will make someone suffering happy. This is a call to responsible citizenry.

City employees without December salaries into New Year

Information reaching the HRT is that the City of Harare failed to pay its workers December 2010 salaries, raising serious questions about the commitment of council to improve the quality of services rendered to the citizenry. How does a council that has promised so much fail to pay its loyal employees at such a crucial time? Citizens and other stakeholders are urged to play an active role in complementing the work of the City of Harare so that everyone is happy. The HRT urges the corporate world to come aboard and join the residents of Harare and the City of Harare in building a Sunshine City that glows light to all.

28 Vehicles Bought for Housing Department

Whether true or false, reports given to the HRT by alarmed city employees indicate that the City of Harare has authorized the purchase of 28 private vehicles, allegedly for the Department of Housing and Community Services, to be used by housing inspectors and valuators. While this development appears to ease the transport worries of city employees, what has drawn the attention of the HRT is that reports indicate that the vehicles cost an average US$3 000 on the market but the City of Harare allegedly claimed that they had bought the vehicles at a cost of US$7 000. As of 31 December 2010, 17 vehicles had already been delivered to Town House. The HRT saw the new 'second-hand vehicles' parked in the yard. The HRT continues to ask the leadership at Town House, especially the Town Clerk, Dr Tendai Mahachi to ease the worries on the minds of the residents by clearly explaining how these vehicles have been purchased, and reveal the people involved in the purchase of the said motor vehicles. Transparency and accountability must be the key principles in the administration of public affairs, including at Town House. City employees and management should cooperate with residents in the running of the City of Harare. Residents are stakeholders and have a legitimate right to know everything that is happening in the city.

Contact the HRT on 0772-869294/ 0772-771860 or email us on hretrust@yahoo.com

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