Back to Index

Municipal service delivery hard-talk series
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
August 03, 2011

CHRA would like to inform all residents and its valued partners that it has launched a new initiative called "service delivery hard-talk series". This initiative focuses on creating a meaningful platform for residents to directly interact with the Mayor asking questions on service delivery whilst the Mayor also responds directly. In an effort to have more people participating in service delivery, CHRA has mobilized residents to raise questions that will be forwarded to the Mayor for his response in turn enhancing accountability on our elected leaders. All those interested in getting clarity on service delivery and any other governance related issues in their areas can forward their questions to this e-mail and we will take the questions to the Mayor. All questions will be responded to once a month and our target is to have responses every last Friday of the month.

CHRA takes Chombo to court

On the 16th of May 2011, CHRA wrote to the Minister of Local Government Rural and Urban development seeking clarity on the presence and credibility of special interest councilors he appointed to serve in the City of Harare. Their appointment is a clear example of criminal abuse of office which should not be condoned in a democracy, hence the Association made that resolution after a special Management meeting. The individuals who were appointed have got no special classification which would inspire their appointments as special interest councilors, while others are ex-convicts that have served prison terms. Chombo has appointed these councilors to cover for the loss of his political party (Zanu PF) in the Local Government elections and has gone on to appoint a ZANU PF losing candidate who was rejected by the people.

Public meetings update (Property seizure)

Dzivarasekwa Public Meeting

Residents of Dzivarasekwa with "illegal structures" have bills ranging from $800 to $1700. The amounts include a monthly "illegal structure penalty" of $65 and illegal refuse charge of $52.

• Residents have received letters of final demand from the council.
• Some residents in Ward 39 are taking turns to sleep during the evening because of limited accommodation.
• Residents are constructing illegal structures so as to provide accommodation for their families or to raise income.
• The City of Harare Revenue Officer based at Rowan Martin Mr Nyakudya warned residents that those that will not clear their bills will face legal action from C.O.H and that includes attaching property so that council may recover its money from residents.
• Residents demanded that their cottages be legalized as was done in Mabvuku and Tafara were residents are allowed to build cottages upon purchasing plans at their district offices.
• Councilor Mandere explained that about three quarters of Dzivarasekwa houses are council rented houses hence residents are not allowed to extend or build structures because the houses are still council property.
• The District Officer explained to the residents that a proclamation was sent to residents through letters in 1995 for residents to apply for home ownership scheme but the response was not pleasing and the program is now a closed chapter.
• Dzivarasekwa Councilors pledged to lobby other councilors for the awarding of "sitting tenants "ownership to the council rented houses so that they can be able to extend or build cottages.
• Residents argued that the City of Harare was thriving on high penalties not only as a way to fix residents but as a fundraising strategy as it is indicated on their budget.
• The Residents agreed that CHRA Coordinators compile a database of sitting tenants on council rented houses and then write a report that will be tabled in the Harare City Council Housing Committee.

The meeting was attended by Rowan Martin Officials, District Officer and Councilor Karimakwenda Ward 40 and Councilor Mandere Ward 45. Average attendance was 450 people.

Mabvuku Public meeting

Residents were served with letters of final demand and some received summons from the City of Harare. However most residents are not in agreement with the contents of the summons sighting long periods of no water delivery.

• ZLHR urged residents to ignore summons from C.O.H. given that summons are only supposed to come from the court directly not from the service provider.
• All affected residents agreed to come together and compile all summons so as to come up with one case that can be taken to the courts.
• Water delivery was so erratic but bills continued to sky rocket.
• Refuse collection was said to have improved but residents complain that they do not have bins to collect their litter
• The local Councilors pointed out that the issue of property seizure was not a product of a full council resolution and that it was illegal for council technocrats to be involved in attaching property belonging to residents.

Average attendance was 150 residents (Area D community centre)

Visit the CHRA fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP