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Local government media update - Issue 4
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
February 17, 2012

Comment

Since Monday the 13th of February, media houses focused on the Chitungwiza town clerk saga which raised interest amongst residents. However the typhoid issue which made more headlines the week before seems to be gathering dust, which might mean that the disease has been, arrested which in actual fact is the opposite. More suburbs are now reporting more cases of suspected typhoid. The case of Brian James still features in many media houses but the stories are generally focusing on the MDC position with regards to his suspension. The story in which the minister of water, Hon Sipepa Nkomo argued that dam construction was impossible unless mermaids were appeased was augmented by another story in the Sunday mail which reported that the process was completed and now construction was running smoothly.

Below is a list of summarized local government stories which were featured in the local print and electronic media followed by selected links.

Chitungwiza Town clerk arrested over fraud
Nehanda Radio

Chitungwiza Townclerk Godffrey Tanyanyiwa a ZANU PF supporter was on last Thursday evening arrested on allegations of fraud and criminal abuse of office. The arrest paved way for the resignation of 2 other senior officials of council. It is alleged that the council bought a house in Chisipite supposedly for the Town clerk and made a part payment of $80 000 but failed to pay the remainder. Tanyanyiwa borrowed $85 000 from the municipality to pay off the remaining balance and later registering the house in his name. He however rented out the house to council for $1300 a month, before his arrest he was staying in a different house in Mt Pleasant at the expense of council to the tune of $1500 a month and also a housing allowance of $320.

Water shortages halt business at Rotten-Row Courts
Daily News

Business was halted last Friday at the Harare Magistrate's courts due to a burst water pipe which caused serious water shortages since the beginning of the week. People were asked to vacate the building at 10:50am so that people wont fall victim to Typhoid. Twenty staff members at the Magistrates' Court were reported to be experiencing stomach pains making the closure a necessity. The closing of the Courts disadvantaged the proceeding of cases and most of them had to be postponed.

Typhoid fear as tobacco floors open
Sunday Mail

The Harare City Council has given the go ahead for the opening of the 4 auction floors-Tobacco Sales Floor Ltd, Boka Tobacco auction floors, Millenium Tobacco floors and Premier Tobacco auction floors. Harare City Council chief environmental officer Mr John Kandwe said council had inspected the floors and designated vending space so as to prevent what happened last year where vendors sold food stuffs where there were few toilets and very little running water.

Chinese constructors defy EMA's order again
Daily News

A Chinese company constructing a 300 roomed hotel at a wetland in Belvedere ignored an order sent twice by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to cease construction because of climatic changes that are likely to destroy properties by floods or have an impact on human security such as the heat wave of last year. The construction of the hotel overlaps 220 metres into the wetland. The EMA will issue its third order through the Environment Minister Francis Nhema and forward the issue to court.ZTA chief executive officer, Karikoga Kaseke told Daily news that the tourism body was the one that invited the Chinese investors.

Council, ZINARA clash over funds
The Standard

The Harare City Council is at loggerheads with Zimbabwe National Road Adminstration ahead of this year's distribution of the road funds with each party accusing the other of reneging on its obligations. Harare Mayor told the council meeting that ZINARA last year gave the council $4 million which is almost half of what they owe them. Some councilors wanted to call for legal action against Zinara but the Mayor cautioned them not to because the Transport Communication and Infrastructure Development Minister, Nicholas Goche pledged to persue the matter with Zinara. Zinara spokesperson argued that they do not owe the council anything but it's the council that has a problem. He said Zinara gave the council $3 650 000 last year for routine road maintenance but they failed to acquit for it hence he is not sure whether they will give council $5 million this year since they failed to acquit the last money. Mayor Masunda said Harare required $67 million to revamp its road network.

ZESA to disconnect power over arrears
Daily News

Zesa claims domestic and industrial consumers owe it close to $400 million on unpaid bills with 100 000 domestic customers in Harare and Bulawayo alone, not having paid their bills since 2008.In a statement to the media during the weekend, ZESA said it would soon embark on a massive disconnection of electricity supplies to those who have not been paying their dues. Customers who have no approved payment plans will have supplies disconnected without notice. Nevertheless, most residents of Harare and Bulawayo has been paying exorbitant amounts whilst they go for days without electricity.

Government speaks on Easipark
The Herald

Some Harare councilors were involved in a scandal between the City Council and South African company EasiHold. In December's report, Mr Dhewa, the Harare City Council representative, alleged misuse of funds which could have robbed council of $400 000.Harare City Council and EasiHold formed EasiPark in 2009 as an effort to improve parking in central Harare. Mr Dhewa, has recommended a forensic audit to uncover the dubious activities around transactions involving EasiHold. Local Government Minister, Ignatious Chombo said government was already working on the issue and the Minister also advised the authorities at Town House not to proceed with the deal until both the companies papers are put together for arbitration.

Chitungwiza Town clerk remanded in custody
The Herald

Godfrey Tanyanyiwa, the Town clerk for Chitungwiza was denied bail by the Harare Magistrate. He is facing 52 counts of criminal abuse of office, eight counts of fraud, a count of corruptly concealing from a principal of personal interest in a transaction and also illegally acquiring 3 commercial stands using names of 3 different shelf companies. Tanyanyiwa reportedly prejudiced his employer of $170 000 when he diverted funds meant for purchasing 3 Toyota Fortuners to buy his Toyota Landcruiser v8 for $170 000.Altogether he is accused of authorizing numerous cash payments amounting to $337 253 to himself and other top council officials.

Chitungwiza residents question Chombo's sincerity on suspension of council
The Zimbabwean online

Residents of Chitungwiza are doubting the genuineness of Chombo in dealing with the various cases of corruption among councilors and officials, the residents arguing that his actions smelled of political hypocrisy. The Chairman of Chitungwiza Residents and Ratepayers Association (CHIRRA) assumes that the Minister of Local Government is acting out. Although CHIRRA applauds the Minister for his stance on corruption, they do not understand his decision of reinstating the Chitungwiza Town clerk amid the fraud fiasco. Replacing elected Councillors with Special Interest Councillors politicizes local entities especially Chitungwiza City Council. CHIRRA denounced the appointment of special interest councilors who serve the Minister not Chitungwiza residents. CHIRRA added the MDC-T fired all Chitungwiza councilors on allegations of corruption after an internal investigation brought to light numerous irregularities and the Minister defended the councilors but in a twist of events fired the same councilors on the same allegations which makes his sincerity on the existing scandals questionable.

Kwamereki re-opening postponed indefinitely
Nehanda Radio

The Harare City Council has postponed the re-opening of Kwamereki which was supposed to have been opened last week .The Council said they will reconsider opening after the Typhoid crisis has been completely eradicated. The Council is in the process of testing communicable diseases in the food and beverage industry and workers diagnosed with communicable diseases including Typhoid will be forced to terminate their employment. Zimbabwe Informal Sector Association wrote to the Harare Mayor complaining over the displacement of Mereki Gotchie gochie cooperative, he appealed for the urgent re-opening of Kwamereki but the application did not yield results.

Chitungwiza salary bill slashed by $400 000
The Herald

The resuscitation team appointed to manage the affairs of Chitungwiza municipality cut council salaries by $400 000 so as to conform to the Government directive that only 30% of revenue collected goes towards staff costs. The municipality owes services providers up to $6.9 million while it is owed $4 million in rates arrears. The team has managed to save $400 000 from the salary bill which now stands at 1.3 million from 1.7 million. The resuscitation team revealed that management salaries for December and January will not be paid as a way of recovering overpayments to them. The municipality owes 7.1 million in statutory remmitances,8 million in unpaid water bills to Harare and 1.8 million to various banks. Health Services Director Dr Simoyi and Chamber Secretary Ms Mugumbate resigned, 2 other unidentified officials have been suspended and more officials are expected to resign while others face arrest.

Poor service causing violence
NewsDay

Zanu PF Harare provincial chairman rejected the Mbare based shadowy group 'Chipangano' accused of terrorizing residents as none Zanu PF members, he blamed the wayward behavior on frustration caused by poor service delivery. The chairman Mr Midzi said, people in most surburbs are frustrated by lack of service delivery and you find high volumes of uncollected garbage that causes cholera and no water in some cases and out of this frustration , it takes a small provocation to cause violence. Harare police spokesperson inspector Sabau accused party supporters of turning their social conflicts into social clashes.

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