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Local government media content update: Issue 3
Combined Harare
Residents Association (CHRA)
August 10, 2011
General
Comment
CHRA is concerned
with the City of Harare/China loan facility which was approved by
Council in its last meeting in July 2011. The Association is currently
in the process of analyzing the terms of reference and will give
a full statement in due course. However, we are generally concerned
that this loan is coming in "supposedly" to renovate
water delivery systems. We are aware that Water services and rates
generate most of the revenue of the City, But we wonder what the
money is being used for. Is this not another ploy to hide behind
the banner of the need to improve social services? CHRA is concerned
that in the end this money may be used to fund administration costs
at the gross expense of suffering residents. Further, the history
of prepaid meters in most parts of world has spelled disaster for
suffering residents. CHRA has noted the deteriorating situation
in some areas with regards to water services. Residents in Dzivarasekwa,
Highlands, Malbereign have had erratic water supplies. CHRA is engaging
the City of Harare on this problem.
Harare
City Council formally accepts loan
Herald
The Herald reported
that the City of Harare approved a USD 144 million loan facility
from the China Export and Import Bank in its last meeting in July
2011. The City claims the money will be used for purchasing quality
plant equipment for water services. The loan will also be used to
rollout a pre-paid water metering system project. The Association
cautions that the resident may shoulder the burdening interest of
this loan while in essence most of the money may be used to fund
administration costs. CHRA is doing a critique on this loan and
will publish its report in due course.
Harare
Mayor under fire from Residents
Financial Gazette
CHRA wrote to
the Mayor demanding clarity on the state of the second round of
the land audit. Concerned with the time that has taken so far without
a clearly laid down procedure and the continuous looting of prime
land in Harare, CHRA Chair-person Simbarashe Moyo advised the Mayor
to expedite the process because it is becoming too costly for the
residents. In 2010, elected councilors led by Warship Dumba embarked
on a land audit in search of answers as to how land has been distributed
in Harare from the period of October 2004 up to December 2009. This
move was welcomed by the Association as a clear symbol of accountability
but unfortunately, those implicated were never brought to book and
those that implicated were subsequently fired from Council.
Curtail
reckless accumulation of land
Daily News
CHRA wrote an
open letter to the Mayor of Harare demanding that he stop the change
of land use in an area known as "Remainder of STL Borrowdale
Harare" into a multi-million business park. The reasons sighted
thereof were that the land in question is generally a wetland and
is the source of Gwebi river. CHRA went on to acknowledge the presence
of Augur of Ukraine which used to share the same address with Harvest-net
investments belonging to the Minister of Local Government Rural
and Urban Development. The Minister is also the same person who
approves change of land use which means that there will be a conflict
of interest. However, CHRA has not received any response from the
Mayor.
Water
crisis hits city
Daily News
This article
narrated the incessant water shortage affecting Dzivarasekwa community
for close to three weeks now. Residents are now forced to fetch
water from unprotected water sources which could meant a possible
turn back to the 2008 health situation were the Country was hit
by a devastating cholera
outbreak. Harare City Council has been struggling lately to
meet water demands and the Association has been in continuous talks
with the C.O.H. water department in search for lasting solutions.
However, Leslie Gwindi was unaware of the crisis of water shortage
in Dzivarasekwa. CHRA will continue to advocate for the consistent
provision of water as a basic human right.
Chitungwiza
Town Clerk's allowance case turns dirty
Daily News
Godfrey Tanyanyiwa,
the incumbent Town-Clerk of Chitungwiza Municipality, is fighting
to have a controversial motion passed in Council in which he is
seeking to have himself and other top officials awarded heavy perks
inclusive of a 24 hour security allowance, gym allowance, housemaid
allowance and a sports club allowance amongst others. However, his
ambitions have hit a snag after ward 17 Councilor Jacob Rukweza
rejected the motion resulting in a political fist fight with the
Town-Clerk. The chief of staff has written to the Minister advising
him of Jacob's absence from full council meetings without
prior notice alleging that he was working for the Swazi-times. However,
Rukweza is denying these allegations adding that at the time of
his absence, he was in South-Africa getting medical attention. He
further goes on to argue that his passport does not indicate himself
having entered Swaziland. It is sad to note that Town-clerks are
appointed by the Local Government Board, which is also appointed
by the Minister which goes on to prove that their work is totally
not independent and impartial. This elected Councilor could be fired
from Council on the basis of the Town-Clerks' relationship
with the Minister.
Budget
passed, residents furious
NewsDay
The Ministry
of Local Government Rural and Urban Development has passed a $103
Million budget for Kwekwe Municipality. The passing of the budget
came at a time when over 300 Kwekwe residents declined the passing
of the budget sighting irregularities from the consultation process
to the figures. Kwekwe Residents Association has booked for an urgent
meeting with the Ministry to clarify their argument. CHRA has noted
with concern the trend that has taken place in most local authorities
where budget consultations are not done democratically. Harare City
Council is currently on a property attachment spree but the current
budget was objected in the first place because it was beyond the
reach of many. Local authorities should exercise proper participatory
budget sessions in order to get full corporation from residents
through payments.
Residents
resort to "bucket" toilet system
NewsDay
The shortage
of water in Chitungwiza's St Mary's has forced residents
to opt for the bucket system. However, the bucket system is not
one where residents source water from boreholes to be used in the
toilet but actual excreting in buckets and throwing away their human
waste at nearby bushes. Further to that, it is quite appalling to
realize that it is in the same bushes that residents have also resorted
to fetch water from unprotected wells posing a serious health time
bomb for them. According to the article, residents argue that their
toilets are blocked and that they cannot stand the situation in
these toilets coupled with the closure of public toilets. This development
comes at a time when top council officials in Chitungwiza are demanding
heavy perks at a time when service delivery continues to dilapidate.
However, CHRA's unwavering position stands still that local
authorities should stick to the regionally accepted ration of 70:30%
of revenue collected with more money channeled towards service delivery.
Please act on Dzivarasekwa water crisis
Daily News
A disgruntled
resident from Dzivarasekwa (identified as zvikaramba we vote out)
expressed their discontent on the non availability of water in this
community. S/he says that they are worried at the manner in which
the City fathers are behaving, taking time to solve the water crisis
in Dzivarasekwa. The open letter castigated the Councilors threatening
to vote them out in the next election.
Uncollected
refuse - A health hazard
Daily News
This article
exposed one area were C.O.H. is lacking in terms of service delivery
i.e. refuse dumps. Piles of uncollected refuse are still lying isolated
in selected suburbs of Harare. The typhoid
outbreak which broke out in Mabvuku last year was traced from
the refuse dump, which was located near Kamunhu shops. Zimbabweans
urged Harare City Councils and Municipalities to put in place sustainable
waste management strategies that will ensure accesses to a clean
and safe environment. CHRA is currently working with its communities
in a string of clean-up programs aimed at augmenting C.O.H. in the
removal of refuse in Harare.
Visit the CHRA
fact
sheet
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