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Local government media content update
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
February 10, 2012

General Comment

Below is a list of selected local government articles and links that were featured in the countries daily newspapers. The typhoid outbreak and the corruption which was unearthed at Chitungwiza municipality made most of the headlines. However, no emphasis was made on the current bill in Parliament which is targeting reviewing the Urban Councils Act, the bogus suspected Zanu PF aligned group known as Welfare trust which is coercing people to pay USD$30 for them to clear their municipal debts and the blitz launched by the municipal police targeting vendors in other areas like Mabvuku-Tafara and Sunningdale.

Rampant Corruption at Chitungwiza Municipality
The Sunday Mail

An investigation brought to light the abuse of council funds by top officials at Chitungwiza City Council where the monthly bill for management alone stood at $299 179 with the most senior official taking home $31 000 monthly excluding other benefits. As if that was not enough, the top management awarded themselves loans amounting to $90 000 each to buy luxury vehicles, strangely the loans were not deducted on their salaries. These absurd practices saw the appointment of 4 special interest councilors by government to try and curb the disaster while 2 more councilors are yet to be appointed.

Chombo Blasts Lax City Councils
The Sunday Mail

Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, Dr Ignatious Chombo blamed councils for failing to put measures that would prevent unnecessary disease outbreaks. The Minister noted that before the beginning of the year he advised Chitungwiza, Harare and Bulawayo Mayors and Town Clerks to review their budgets and prioritise water and refuse collection before the beginning of the rain season but the advise fell on deaf ears. He also expressed concern over the way the typhoid outbreak was being handled by the council. Business people at Kwamereki blamed council for neglecting their duties until the last minute. The Harare Town clerk dismissed these complains arguing that the councils were regularly collecting refuse at Kwamereki.

Refurbishment of Hostels Insane, Says Chombo
The Herald

Local Government Minister Ignatious Chombo has described the decision by the Harare City Council of spending the $5 million donated by Bill and Melinda Gates on renovating Mbare's 58 hostels and constructing new buildings in Mbare as absurd and contrary to reason. He argued it would be useless to refurbish since after renovation, the buildings would only accommodate 10% of the existing population leaving the remaining 90% homeless and also that there is no space to built new structures in Mbare. He however, suggested the council should take the available 9000 stands from government and relocate the residents of Matapi. Mayor Masunda blames ZANU PF officials from Mbare of trying to hinder the construction of town houses and renovation of hostels, he later announced the project would be moved to Dzivarasekwa as some sections of Mbare did not support the project.

MP's Unearth Housing Scheme Scandal
The Herald

MP's brought to public notice the manner in which new government flats along Willowvale road are being sold. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Works and National Housing discovered that many who benefited did not meet the selection criteria. The housing scheme was supposed to benefit people on the housing waiting list of any local authority who are able to pay deposit(civil servants were to pay $3600 while vulnerable public groups would pay $10 000) and people who did not own other properties in Harare. However that wasn't the case as some civil servants were made to pay $10 000 to benefit, those who already had other properties benefited, people who were never on the waiting list and children as young as 8 years were also beneficiaries. Civil servants who paid $3600 had not yet been allocated houses while those in the private sector who paid $10 000 had been allocated.

Two Chitungwiza Councilors Suspended
Daily News

The government suspended 2 councillors from Chitungwiza Municipality on allegations of derailing council business. The Councilors in question are Adam Puzo and Peter Keri who Chair the procurement and finance committees respectively. Minister of Local Government, Hon, Chombo fired other 2 special interest councilors and a resuscitation team is currently helping to restructure systems at the council after the collapse of service delivery.

Mereki to Re-open this Weekend
Daily News

Kwamereki a braai and drinking spot in Warren Park is opening on Saturday 11 February 2012. Food vendors and operators at the place are working together to build toilets and food stalls that would meet health standards. There are now water taps, sinks and individual cubicles at the spot. Ms Mereki however urged other business people to chip in and help the situation.

Councilors Slam Mayor
The Herald

Harare councilors have produced a report on council operations. The report was leaked to the press and found its way to the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, Ignatious Chombo during a meeting with special interest councilors, committee chairpersons, heads of departments and Deputy Mayor Chiroto. The report described Mayor Masunda as a man who does not know whose side to take and which actions would be of benefit to council. Harare Water Director Engineer Christopher Zvobgo was the only one described as 'well organized and in charge of his department'. City spokesman Mr Gwindi said the document will be distributed to all departments and that issues raised required immediate attention.

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