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CHRA to take City of Harare to court in 30 days
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
October 08, 2012

Concerned by the opaque administration within the City of Harare, CHRA has resolved to take City of Harare to court within the next 30 days. Through its legal representatives Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (Z.L.H.R), CHRA has written to the Town Clerk, Dr. Tendai Mahachi demanding the release of information which City's bureaucrats are refusing to release in terms of Section 6 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (10:27). CHRA seeks to use this information to perform an independent evaluation of the City of Harare finance management and budget performance. CHRA has written six letters with no response to the Local authority requesting to be furnished with the following data:

I. Initial appropriations (2010-2012)

II. Final appropriations (2010-2012)

III. Actual expenditures (2010-2012)

IV. City of Harare Strategic Plan 2012-2017

To date communication has been one sided with the other party (C.o.H) hesitating to release the much needed information. The request has been inspired by the need to do an overall assessment on the effectiveness and efficiency of the City in the discharge of its duties (Service delivery). In recent times, Harare has been facing severe water shortages which have been attributed to the archaic piping system which is now failing to cope up with the growing population pressure. Coupled to that, CHRA is aware of the fact that Harare City Council is getting at least 40% of its total revenue from water and what we seek to unravel is how the money which is supposed to be used for water, has been spent.

It's quite appalling to realize that up to date, C.o.H has not released any audited statements since 2009 to 2011. Ratepayers continue to contribute without knowing how their monies are being used. Continuous speculation and ambiguity surrounding salaries and perks being offered to the senior management officials has also triggered us to act on behalf of residents in wanting to know exactly where the City is failing in terms of financial management. The Assessment is meant to come up with a compendium of recommendations that can be forwarded to the City.

CHRA is going to take legal action if Harare City Council does not produce the documents requested therein, in 30 days starting from the notification date which is 2 October in terms of section 6 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (10:27).

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