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City budget consultative meetings update
Harare Residents' Trust (HRT)
September 05, 2011

Introduction

As part of monitoring the performance of the City of Harare, the HRT is closely monitoring the pre-budget consultation meetings being facilitated by the City councillors and City of Harare officials. In this update the HRT provides a brief account of what transpired at each of the pre-budget meetings held in various residential areas.

Kuwadzana Extension: Kuwadzana 8 Primary School - 23/08/11

The meeting was facilitated by Ward 44 Councillor Resias Masunda. Also present were representatives from the City of Harare Treasury Department, Urban Planning Services, Department of Housing and Community services, District Office and Town House secretariat. Residents demanded that a clinic be built in the area to enable access to health services. Concerns were raised on road maintenance, establishment of recreational areas for children to entertain themselves so as to reduce drug abuse and other anti social activities. Residents demanded that proper market stalls for vendors be established. Vendors are being harassed by the police. There are no tower lights for lighting. Participants at the meeting raised the issue of poor drainage system in the area raising fears of flooding along roads with the impending rainy season. Residents demanded the expansion of Kuwadzana 8 Primary School and a secondary school to cater for secondary school-going children. Only 49 residents attended this meeting.

Glen Norah: Glen Norah Specimen Hall - 24/08/11

This meeting was attended by 82 residents and eight council officials. Residents raised the issue of road patching, public toilets and tower lights repairing, water reticulation, and burst sewer pipes which need replacement. The residents demanded that the City of Harare reduces the senior citizen age from 65 years down to 50 years given the reduced life expectancy in the country. Residents said the city must attend to piling garbage in the community, clearing of refuse dump sites and reduction of high service charges. Residents demanded that council use solar robots. They applauded council for improved health service delivery which could be noticed on reduced mortality rate and availability of medication in council health centres. Residents demanded accountability and transparency in the budget formulation, elements missing in the current process.

Greendale/ Mandara: Greendale Sports Club - 24/08/11

The meeting was cancelled due to poor attendance and was postponed to a later date. Present at the venue was Director of Harare Water Engineer Christopher Magwenzi Zvobgo and other representatives from Harare City Council. In discussions with the HRT representatives who had come to the meeting, Engineer Zvobgo indicated that water supplies were erratic in the area, saying the City of Harare spent millions of dollars on water treatment chemicals, treatment and distribution to different communities.

Mufakose: Rutendo Hall - 26/08/11

Eight council officials attended the pre-budget consultative meeting, attended by 126 residents. Mr Stonard Majogo from the City Treasury department refused to give a summary of the performance of the 2011 city budget arguing that, "it is not the main objective of the meeting", remarks which sparked heated exchanges between him and residents in attendance. Only the timely intervention of Councillor Joyce Kariwo calmed the situation and apologised for the poor conduct of Mr Majogo. Residents raised concern on potholes, recreational facilities which need refurbishment; opening of the closed swimming pool, closed public toilets, clearing dump sites and the employing of new nurses at Mufakose clinics easing pressure on health services.

Mbare: Mai Musodzi Hall - 26/08/11

The meeting was cancelled due to threats of violence which Councillor Friday Muleya said confirmed that the Zanu PF vigilante group Chipangano reigns supreme over other development projects. Budget consultative meetings have been a serious challenge in Mbare and are unlikely to be re-convened because of the crude politics at play in the area.

Highfield: Machembere Hall - 27/08/11

The meeting was attended by 8 council officials; fortunately they began by giving a breakdown of the 2011 budget. Residents demanded the there be transparency in the council billing system, they emphasised that council repairs all council toilets in the area. Participants demanded that the City of Harare slashes all debts in their accounts. Other concerns raised include the failure by council to patch potholes. Potholes are becoming a threat to human life because some of the potholes are becoming a threat to human life. Water shortage is major concern in the area the residents demanded that council to embark on a program of borehole drilling in the community to ease water shortages. Residents lambasted council for the ever increasing dumping sites in area. 65 residents attended the meeting mostly were orderly people who were concerned with service delivery in the locality.

Mabelreign: Municipal Business Centre shed - 27/08/11

The meeting was attended by 34 residents. The meeting was facilitated by Councillor Charity Bango of ward 41 Marlborough in the absence of the ward Councillor Mudavanhu due to reported ill health. Residents at the meeting raised concern about poor water supplies, bad road network, and inconsistency in refuse collection and other council services which are below the expected standards, given the rates that they are paying to council. Residents heavily criticised council officials present including the councillor for the hefty salaries being paid to City of Harare senior management, as high as US$15 000 at the expense of service delivery. Residents demanded that the directors of the City of Harare come and address them because they need clarity on the issues raised and service delivery issues. Residents criticized councillor Bango and her team for failing to provide a clear financial break down of the 2011 Budget. No meaningful contribution towards the formulation of the 2012 City budget at this meeting took place and residents walked out due to disgruntlement.

Warren Park: Magamba Hall - 27/08/11

The meeting was also attended by the local Member of Parliament Engineer Elias Mudzuri. Council officials present only wanted residents to talk about their problems instead of discussing the performance of the 2011 City Budget. Residents demanded more boreholes in the area in order to ease pressure on already existing boreholes. Participants demanded that council replaces old water pipes with new ones because water leakages are unbearable. Residents recommended that City of Harare constructs a foot bridge between Warren Park D and Cold Comfort. They emphasised the need for another bridge in Warren Park 1 and Westlea due ever increasing hit and run accidents when crossing Bulawayo Road. The residents encouraged council to close down all unregistered car parks because these activities are fuelling criminal behaviour. Residents raised reservations with ever increasing dump sites which are causing pollution in their neighbourhoods. Public toilets are not functioning in the areas. This has compromised community health standards. Some of the toilets at Pfukwa Township are being used as storerooms, depriving the community of toilets. MP Mudzuri committed himself to embarking on a program to increase the number of boreholes in Warren Park. About 150 people attended the meeting. This is the meeting with the highest attendance so far.

Highfield: Zimbabwe Hall - 28/08/11

The meeting was cancelled due to poor attendance and confusion on the starting time. Residents seen at the venue confirmed that the councillor misled them on the starting time. About 10 people attended the abortive meeting. These were only HRT members in the area. Residents demanded seriousness by council officials and that they stop wasting residents' time and council resources by attending these ill-planned meetings. The meeting was postponed to 11 September 2011 at 2pm at CJ Hall.

Marlborough: Marlborough District Office - 28/08/11

Councillor Charity Bango and council officials conducted the meeting, attended by 50 residents. The local Member of Parliament Jessie Majome attended the meeting. Residents expressed concern on water reticulation and road patching. They demanded that council constructs a primary school in the area and that a maternity facility be added to Marlborough clinic to cater for expecting mothers. Participants emphasized the need for adequate market stalls to provide space for vendors. They demanded that council refurbishes all public toilets at civil centres or possibly build new ones. They lambasted the councillor for failing to organise meetings with residents saying that communication needed to be improved between residents and elected members of the community.

Mount Pleasant: Mount Pleasant Hall - 01/09/11

This meeting was a disaster by all standards. Only four residents turned up, against an attendance of nine council officials including Councillor Masiye Kapare of Ward 7. Residents in attendance castigated the council for its failure to respect the ratepayers by adequately advertising the meetings. The city officials attempted to cancel the meeting but the four residents refused to depart, demanding an explanation of the budget making process. The key concerns expressed by the four residents were around refuse collection which they said was inconsistent, huge salaries to city senior management, and general decline in service delivery. The council officials, led by the area District Officer Badze gave a summary on the performance of the 2011 budget which they said was under-performing. The council hoped to accrue US$137 million for capital budget, realise revenue of $260 million, and from donations and government grants US$99 million. However due to economic hardships, the council only received US$19 million in revenue, US$99 million for capital.

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