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Local government media update and analysis
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
September 19, 2012

Council in crisis as major donor pulls out
The Sunday Mail

Harare city council is in a quagmire after one of its major donors, the International Community of the Red Cross (ICR) announced plans to pull out of an agreement that saw it supplying more 75% of the city's drug needs. The partnership between the capital and ICRC has been running since 2008 and as part of measures aimed at facilitating a smooth transition the two parties recently conducted a study on the state of affairs at council clinics. Presenting the research's findings City Council Director of health and services Dr Stanley Mungofa disclosed that municipal clinics were largely depending on donor support with the ICR being the major donor. Commenting on the reports and council pans, the director of city health, Dr Prosper Chonzi, disclosed that council will approach Government for additional funding to avert the looming crisis.

Council orders eviction of over 30 families
The Herald

Harare City Council has ordered the eviction of more than 30 families from the dilapidated Vivandelpi Court in Eastlea. Council argues that conditions at the block of flats do not conform to public health by-laws. The block of flats is among the 10 city high-rise buildings recently condemned as unsafe or unfit for human habitation. The Harare fire and health departments said the buildings do not meet health and fire safety standards. The building is located along McClery Road and houses more than 30 tenants although it was designed for 6 families. The tenants have been staying at the property belonging to Vivandelpi pvt ltd for more than 10 years without paying rates.

Fleecing by ZESA to continue
Daily News

The re-introduction of pre-paid meters by ZESA has been touted in reports in the state media as a panacea to the persistent problems that consumers have expressed disgruntlement for ages. The re-introduction of the meters is a strategy designed to enable ZESA and its subsidiary company (ZETDC) to dodge addressing and tackling the systemic weaknesses besetting its operations while taking maximum advantage of the shortcomings to continue fleecing consumers. ZETDC is not concerned about supplying the commodity but dreaming up ways of distributing the financial burden of deficient service delivery among hapless and long suffering consumers. Now in addition to paying for the new gadgets, consumers are stuck with paying debts they have vehemently disputed.

Treasurer's appointment raises stink
NewsDay

The Local Government Board , in an unprecedented move, appointed Zephaniah Chirware as Chinhoyi municipality treasurer on condition he attains a full Chartered Institute of Secretaries (CIS) qualification by December this year. In a letter to the Local Authority, the LGB wrote: "Approval to appoint the Director of Finance where the LGB resolved under section 123 (e) as read with sections 134 and 135 of the Urban Councils Act chapter 29:15 approve Mr Z Chirware to be appointed to the post of Director of Finance subject to attainment of full CIS qualification in December 2012. " In the meantime, Mr Chirware should be placed on an acting capacity and if he does not attain the qualification, council should re-advertise for the post in January 2013".However the directive by LGB, vested with authority to appoint or dismiss top managers in all the local authorities across the country, has irked some councillors who view the appointment as "flawed".

Epworth residents engage lawyers
NewsDay

Disgruntled Epworth residents, whose illegal housing structures are facing demolition by the Epworth Local Board, engaged lawyers to stop destruction of the structures. The ELB was barred by singing residents from demolishing structures with the angry residents arguing the motive behind the move was political as only MDC-T supporters were affected, while their ZANU-PF counterparts were spared. Their lawyer, Mupanga Bhatasara, who was part of the scene, told the residents that they should continue reconstructing their demolished structures without beating up anyone. ELB officials present said the site the residents had "invaded" was an industrial area meant to create employment and construction of houses.

Fired MDC-T councilor jailed
NewsDay

Fired MDC-T councillor Johannes Ngozo was arrested in a dramatic street chase which was joined by the public and subsequently jailed for 90 days after he reportedly failed to pay a $2 300 debt. The public instituted a citizen's arrest on Ngozo along 3rd street in Kwekwe as he allegedly attempted to run away from the Messenger of court, who had been ordered by Magistrate Tendai Muchini to apprehend him over the debt.Ngozo was floored by an identified man with a sliding tackle as he attempted to evade the long arm of the law and was beaten up by the public who had mistaken him for a thief during the afternoon drama in town. Liberty Mashanyare confirmed obtaining a civil imprisonment order for Ngozo over a debt the latter owed his client, Abton Matina. : The councillor attempted to flee jail by literally running away from the Messenger Court's assistants, but was caught in one of the most dramatic chases I have ever seen in recent times," Mashanyare said.

Council to deploy in ranks
The Herald

Harare City Council is set to deploy municipal police and treasury department personnel to manage all bus terminuses and ranks following the exit of Marshalls, Mayor Masunda said. His remarks come as kombi operators hailed police and city officials for successfully restoring order in the city after swooping on touts in Harare. They, however, called on authorities to take the programme to all cities in Zimbabwe. Speaking to the Herald, Mr Masunda said the city was in consultation with various stakeholders before deploying their personnel to the ranks." We are more than prepared to deploy our personnel from the city's treasury department, ably assisted by details from the municipal from all our termini together with the ancillary facilities within the CBD as well as the whole of the greater Harare. "Meanwhile, the Urban Commuter Operations of Zimbabwe have met representatives from various transport associations to map the way forward. UCOZ spokesperson Mr Ngoni Katsvairo said operators resoled to erect banners at city ranks to combat touting.

City tender system rapped
The Sunday Mail

Harare city council's tender system is flawed and open to abuse; a committee investigating the delivery of the poisonous sodium cyanide to the city's Morton Jaffray Water Treatment plant recently has revealed. The seven-member committee, led by director of civil protection Mr Madzudzo Pawadyira presented its findings to Local Government Minister, Ignatius Chombo.Mr Pawadyira said the city's tender policy document was devoid of meaningful checks and balances. He said the city's tender document at $500 was very expensive, compared to the regional price of $200. The investigation established that officials dealing with various aspects of the tender process should be rotated as in some cases members of the tender formulation process were in the tender verification process and adjudication."Chamber secretary, town clerk and city treasurer failed to exercise due diligence on the report of the tender adjudication committee before signing the report and dispatching it to the procurement boar, read the report.

Council embroiled in US $700 payment dispute
The Herald

MDC-T councillor for ward 1 embroiled in a dispute with a construction company after he failed to pay $700 balance for the construction of a five office bock. It is understood that four months ago, Clr Dzokurasa contracted Vanokwenyana Construction Company owned by Philimon Choga to build the office complex at a cost of $2700. Mr Choga said the Clr paid him $2000 upon completion and promised to settle the balance which he still has not paid. In his response, Clr Dzokurasa said Mr Choga had inflated the amount. He said they had agreed on $2300, which he claimed he has since paid in full. "The man is trying to play petty politics because when I contracted him we agreed on $1500. After completing the job I paid him US$2300 realising he had done a good job for me".

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