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City of Harare gives up Carter House to Chipangano
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
October 28, 2011

At a time when the City is in dire need of financial resources to sustain service delivery, Harare City fathers have dismally agreed to let Chipangano continue with its stay on most Council owned properties. This was revealed yesterday at a full council meeting in which most councilors were present. Mayor Muchadei Masunda proposed that the City fathers should go on a tour of Mbare on a fact finding mission given that CHRA and other stakeholders have been reporting on the levels of militarization of most public facilities by ZANU PF. Councilors were discussing the issue of Carter House, which has since been taken over by ZANU PF under the banner of Chipangano and to date a ZANU PF flag is flying high at the mentioned base. However, observers were stunned by the response which came from Councilor Muleya who suggested that the idea of touring Mbare was tantamount to suicide, given the violent nature of the infamous Chipangano group, well known for its violent nature. He even went to the extent of suggesting that lives could be lost if the touring idea is implemented. Surprisingly, the matter was shelved with all the councilors agreeing that there is nothing that council could do.

Council discussion on water

• Councilor Herbert Gomba raised the motion on water. He lamented the unavailability of water in most areas and the possibility of a Cholera outbreak. Most suburbs have gone for more than two weeks without water and that there are now resorting to water found from unprotected sources. Engineer Zvobgo in his presentation highlighted that Harare City Council is producing about 600 mega litres per day which supplies four million people in Harare, Chitungwiza and Norton alone. The current water crisis resulted after a burst in pump number 2 which led to the capacitor/transformer catching fire. Kunzvi dam was seen as the solution to the crisis which will produce 250 mega litres and Musami dam 450 mega-litres in order for the city to have enough water.
  
• Mayor Masunda highlighted that there is Japanese and a South African consortium willing to partner with C.o.H on the development of Kunzvi and Musami dams respectively. The project requires 1.1billion which the Minister of Finance said it was difficult to raise from the national treasury. Dr Mahachi explained that power cuts are the major determinant of the current water crisis. The Warren Park Control pump station did not have power to pump water due to a vandalised transformer in Kambuzuma subsequently council was forced to stop pumping water from Morton Jeffery water works. Councillor Kufahakutizwi stated that in Mabvuku levels of gender based violence were on the increase with most women enduring the heat in search of water, whilst school going children have not been spared as well considering that it is exam time.

Other issues

• Councilor Muzuva asked the city treasurer whether the senior citizen program was still on but the Treasurer did not give a satisfying response.

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