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Voices from the community
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
August 31, 2011

Despite continuous load shedding, ZESA has stuck to its resolution of increasing tariffs by 31%. We may ask ourselves whether ZESA is now a profit making entity bent on increasing profits whilst providing a sub-standard service or what guarantee do we have of a better service in the event of tariff hikes also reflecting on previous tariff hikes effected and their benefits. Lately we have realized that ZESA has got a V.I.P list of residents who have got 24hour access to electricity without power cuts yet we are told that there is no enough power to feed the whole country.

A voice from the Community is a platform that answers it all. Kindly send in your queries, questions, complaints and any other related issue that you think needs clarification. We have committed ourselves to take up your question to the relevant authorities whilst our information team makes an effort to flight your contribution in the press. Send in your comments simply by replying to this email and we will take up your concerns.

This week's selected comments from our members and partners (Names withheld)

1. Vakomana, may you take City of Harare to task over the unfair distribution of water supply. Westgate has had no water for two weeks now. I know there are areas that have had no water for longer periods but still that is no justification. At least there must be an explanation. They are democratically elected councilors and so must be different from a commission.

Concerned Resident, Westgate

2. The water supply in Gun Hill, Borrowdale Rd has deteriorated. From Friday 5th August to Wed 10 at 7.00 no water. Then only 2 days water that had water was from Friday 12th to Mon 15th no water. Then it came on at 7.00 until the next day when it went off again at 9.30. Scarcely 2 days of no water! From 16th at 9.30 no water until today Thurs, 18th. This is the worst that it has ever been!!! It seems that the person in control of our water supply leaves us without water every weekend and long holiday until he arrives back at work of a Monday morning at 7.00. But this week we barely had 2 days of water. It is impossible to cope with the toilets, which are a health hazard, let alone all the other uses like washing bodies & clothing, kitchen & food.

Please see what you can do to help us

3. Comrades

I suggest that you call Mayor Masunda (and get Ward Chairs to call their local councilors too on the issues of the new administration fee of USD 20) directly rather than waiting for their response. It would also be a good idea to seek complete transparency (as promised by the MDC) in all Council operations: for example,

• publishing all transactions online for residents to see and comment upon
• releasing the ratepayers' database to see exactly where revenue is coming from
• to provide ward level data regarding income and expenditure - this would allow residents to see the comparative wealth/poverty of wards
• to publish all salary and wage data for municipal employees - they are employed by us effectively so why shouldn't we know this? This would help us to monitor ghost employees etcThere are many other areas in which CHRA should advocate for transparency - I suggest that you hold round table discussions with residents and experts (economists, Transparency International etc ) to identify these. Best wishes for a renewed dynamic.

4. Dear Sir / Madam

Please assist me on my worries. I have been staying at a place for the past 6 years. Four months ago the land lord increased rent from $160 to $200. This month he indicated that he now wants the place to be run by the Estate Agent. My question is can they increase my rent and give different terms and conditions that have to be adhered to immediately or they have to adopt the current rent for the next 6 months in which they then can review it?
Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.

5. Dear

It is great to see that CHRA is re-born with a new enthusiasm for confronting the problems afflicting Harare. More strength to you and please keep it up. With regard to billing, please can you investigate more fully into the issue of arrears? Many people were hit with large bills when dollarization occurred and the CoH overcharged on services. No credits were ever passed to rectify this even though there were some statements from various CoH officials that residents should pay set amounts and ignore the charges. Many of the arrears arise from this confusion. CHRA should consider calling for an amnesty or cancellation of arrears - this would be a popular move although it should not cover legitimate charges or willful refusal to pay a reasonable amount to CoH.

With regard to land deals, please can you investigate the deal that the illegal Commission under Mahachi signed with Sasha Jogi (who is now a so-called "special interest councillor") by which Jogi has received the rights to develop the greenbelt between Enterprise Road and Samora Machel Ave into a business park. Jogi was/is part of a consortium of developers who ruined Chisipite Shopping Centre and the nearby Lewisam vlei) and who built the Newlands Bypass, a shady deal which has never been investigated. There is obviously a conflict of interest between his role in Council and as a beneficiary of CoH contracts.

6. Thanx for the update on dates and venues for all the budget consultation meetings, but are there no meetings in ward 8? It seems you skept that ward. Also can you please send us detailed analysis of the previous financial year. We intend to use these in the forthcoming meeting

Concerned resident.

7. We have been served with summons and we don't know what to do anymore. Please CHRA can you assist us with information on how to proceed. City of Harare has threatened to attach our property if ever we are not going to pay our dues. However, I deliberately refused to pay CoH because it did not provide me with water for three years and they argue that I am supposed to pay fixed charges. What day light robbery.

Pliz Help

8. The continous power cuts have directly affected my business. I am running a bar in Mufakose and to put on the generator is costing me up to $100 a week and $400 a month. How do I inspire myself to pay ZESA yet I only receive electricity for less than 4 hours on average? My customers lately have been complaining that I am serving them with hot beer. Should I pay ZESA or not and if not what is the likely result?

Disappointed, Mufakose

9. Can you please explain the recent $20 admin fee being demanded by council that has reflected on bills this August? Is it legal? Tibatsireiwo nokuti hatizive kuti todii. Mari dzacho dzanyanya vakomana

11. (Copied to CHRA) Reference to your recent publication in the newspapers and the printed notice on our accounts.

We wish to point out that we have been writing to you for the past 3 years requesting you to adjust our account due to the fact that for over one year we received no refuse collection (and had to make other arrangements) and also we have a borehole and use this water - however we do continue to pay the monthly standard charge for connection. Every time a water meter reader comes we point out that our reading has not changed but despite this you continue to add units and you are now recording an amount 200 units over and above our reading and are charging for this. Therefore there is an increasing amount showing on our bill that we are not paying due to your overcharging and also charging for a service (refuse) that you have not supplied - and even now we do not receive the weekly refuse collection.

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