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Local government media content update and links
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
October 02, 2012

Harare Mayor faces probe
The Herald

Government has appointed a team to probe Harare Mayor Muchadei Masunda on allegations of conflict of interest in awarding 3 000 residential stands to CABS and Old Mutual, companies he chairs. But the Mayor said he followed rules, made a full disclosure of all outside interests and recused himself from any meeting where there could be conflict of interest. The team is primarily investigating the awarding of all council tenders since 2010, a move that could implicate several councillors. Local Government Minister has since ordered that the deal on the 3000 stands be reversed.

Chombo wants MDC graft probe report
Daily News

Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo wrote to the Prime Minister demanding a copy of the MDC graft probe report. The damaging report, drafted by deputy secretary general Tapiwa Mashakada, reports widespread corruption in MDC-run councils. Chombo, a man the MDC, accuses of having an axe to grind with its councillors, told a news conference last week that while he has written to Tsvangirai requesting the report, there has been no response from Charter House. Chombo has so far dismissed more than a thousand councillors' countrywide while several others are still on suspension. The MDC, on the other hand, claims it has written to Chombo advising him of their decision to fire the 12 councilors in the latest case. But Chombo claimed the MDC was lying.

Councillors shoot down Minister's free water scheme
The Herald

Local authorities are unable to offer free water amounting to 6 000 litres per family monthly because of overcrowding at urban properties, Urban Council's Association president and Masvingo mayor Femias Chakabuda reported. Water Resources Development and Management minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo announced recently that residents of cities and towns should not pay water charges for the first six cubic metres per month. He justified the policy saying water was a basic human right used for cooking, drinking, washing and personal hygiene. A 200 litre drum was found to be adequate for a day for a family of six. Councillor Chakabuda highlighted that because of housing problems; up to four families now share a single property. "There is no way we can give four families free water per each housing property", he said.

Chombo's case struck off the roll
The Herald

The Supreme Court removed from the court roll a constitutional application in which Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo sought nullification of the Urban Councils Amendment Bill introduced in Parliament last year. The Urban Councils Amendment Bill was introduced in the House of Assembly end of last year by some MDC legislators. Minister Chombo argued that the bill was moved by an individual member of the House of Assembly in breach of the Constitution, which grants power to introduce the bill to the Cabinet. Chief Justice Chidyausiku struck the matter off the roll to allow the legislators who moved and seconded the disputed bill to be joined as respondents.

Disconnecting water is against govt policy
Daily News

Residents are entitled to six cubic meters per month, hence local authorities' decision to switch off water defaulters is a violation of human rights and government policy, a cabinet minister said. Water Resources Development and Management Minister Sipepa Nkomo ordered local authorities not to disconnect people who would have failed to pay their bills. "Disconnecting water is against government policy because water has become a basic human right," said Nkomo while announcing new water tariffs in the last week. As of June this year, according to Nkomo, ZINWA was owed $27, 3 million by consumers of raw water. He said the current billing system, which is based on allocations as per agreements entered into by ZINWA and raw users, has also been switched to usage based billing.

Upfumi Kuvadiki threatens Easipark
Daily News

Militant Zanu PF-linked youth outfit, Upfumi Kuvadiki, threatened to use violence to take over the City of Harares parking business if their concerns remain unattended. Privalledge Gwiba, the organisation's spokesperson told delegates at an indigenisation and economic empowerment stakeholders meeting last week that a showdown is looming between Upfumi Kuvadiki and Harare City Council. "The City Council continues to issue licences to foreigners in reserved sectors such as retail not following the dictates of the indigenisation laws," he said. If the council does not grant these licences to us we are going to have a final push.

Council parks now an eyesore
The Zimbabwean

The City Councils once scenic recreational parks are slowly turning into dumping sites as people indiscriminately throw litter around, and the municipality fails to clean up. Visitors to parks like Africa Unity Square and Harare Gardens who bring along food for picnics or lunch breaks are being forced to throw rubbish on the ground as the bins go for long periods without being cleared. The once beautiful park in Glen Norah now resembles a garbage site. Raw sewage is flowing in and the dam and the cage where animals used to be kept is severely damaged. At Machipisa shopping centre in Highfields, the park where people used to relax is now an eyesore. Photographers who used to earn a living by taking photos of relaxing residents complain that people hardly visit the amenity.

Council management under fire
All Africa

Harare City Councillors condemned management's slow response in taking over the management of bus ranks and markets in the city following the ouster of touts and marshals. Deputy Mayor Councillor Chiroto, who commented the police and government for bringing sanity to city bus termini and markets, blamed the management for failing to seize the opportunity to reclaim the assets. Councillor Lisbon Marufu said at the height of the touts and marshals menace he was forced to sell his six kombis because he realised profits from his business were funding people who had not invested in the business. He said Mayor Muchadei Masunda should be empowered to tack back all the ranks. Councillor Peter Moyo accused management of sleeping on duty. He said if Harare was run as a business some managers would have lost their jobs.

Maternity fees to stay - Masunda
The Herald

Harare City Council vowed not to scrap maternity fees as directed by Government. The Government that gave the directive owes C.o.H. US$40 million and does not understand how it can afford to subsidize the maternity fees. Residents, industry and commerce owe a combined 200 million. If paid the funds would be enough to retire the City debt of 100 million to its suppliers and fund service delivery. Since 2009 Government has retired only 9 million of its debts to council which is mainly for refuse, water and sewer charges. Mayor Masunda said calls for the scraping of the fees were misplaced as the end result would be compromised service delivery.

Council should move in now, stabilise termini
All Africa

Harare City Council is blowing its chance of having orderly bus terminuses in the city centre and is still abdicating its responsibilities to manage these termini. The police did clear out the touts who had taken over the termini and are continuing to keep them out. Most touts, being just the foot soldiers of the organised gangs that operated the termini and extorted up to 20 000 a day from kombi drivers, were released on admission of guilt fines. They can and probably will, move back as soon as the police presence lightens. The City Council must have their own people into the bus termini with the police simply on call should there be a tout invasion or some similar emergency. The police have other duties and other people to protect.

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