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Dear Mayor: Accountability first before fees increment
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
September 26, 2012

On Monday, Harare City Council met business and industry as part of its on-going 2013 pre-budget consultations. Addressing delegates, Harare Mayor, His Worship Muchadeyi Masunda vowed to increase the current Maternity fees being charged which are currently pegged at $25USD arguing that the figure was making it impossible for council clinics to offer a standard maternity service. This statement caused a stir amongst the invited guests who pondered on the rationale of increasing maternity fees and other ancillary fees before even accounting for the little money council was getting from service users. In his comment, the Chairperson of the Combined Harare Residents Association, Mr Simbarashe Moyo said that it defeats logic to begin with increasing any service fee when the local authority has failed to account for the monies that we have been paying over the last 5 or more years. Currently, Harare City council does not have any audit report for the years 2009-2012. This is a clear contravention of the principle of accountability and transparency which should be the backbone of the city's vision in its discharge of municipal services.

During the consultations which were done for Residents Associations, the City Treasurer reported that they only managed to collect only 64 million against a projection of 272 million. CHRA can confirm that of the 64 million, at least 40 million of that money went towards salaries and administration with the rest going towards service delivery. The City Treasurer blames this poor revenue collection mainly on residents with whom he says are non compliant in terms of debt payments. However, the Association has observed that in as much as the residents are not paying, which could be attributed to the harsh macro environment characterized by liquidity challenges, City of Harare still has a lot to be desired in their overall governance and administration. Residents are only expected to pay and no feedback is thrown back at them on how funds would have been used. In a normal arrangement, it is difficult for one to continuously pay for something that they do not see value in or any result attainment in the end. This week, residents of Mbare received bills with a $10USD penalty which was written "water reconnection penalty". This applied to everyone and residents stormed CHRA offices with these bills. Contacted for comment, the City's Treasury department confirmed the development but refused to shed more light on the rationale behind charging that fee. This example is just but one of the many ways that the city has been successful in turning away the critical stakeholder in its operations which the ratepayer.

We strongly urge our beloved elected city fathers to be cognizant of these issues that residents continue to raise day in and out. Harare has got more to lose if ever residents connive in shunning the district payment offices due increasing bills and deteriorating service delivery.

The ministry of local government should also play an integral role in this whole arrangement through availing loans to local authorities timeously. Local authorities should look for alternative and sustainable sources of funding and desist from burdening the ordinary ratepayer. Participation of residents in all council activities should be a culture at town house. This fosters a sense of belonging and city ownership on the part of resident such that it is very simple for them to pay their respective bills.

Visit the CHRA fact sheet

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