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Local government media content update - Week of 17 October 2012
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
October 17, 2012

Harare chemical supplier tackles Chombo
DailyNews

A Harare businessperson demanded that Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo retract comments that he was a murderous entrepreneur who deliberately delivered poisonous sodium cyanide to Harare's city water treatment plant and endangered millions of lives. Alex Mashamhanda's lawyers wrote to Chombo expressing concern about the "wrongful" comments and said they will take whatever steps they need to protect his reputation, giving Chombo seven days to retract. Chombo blacklisted Mashamhanda as a chemical supplier, after alleging that this was the second time he had delivered a wrong product after allegedly fraudulently delivering salt to the city in 2011 instead of aluminium sulphate. Mashamhanda denied this, and alleges Chombo is pursuing a political vendetta against him. He said Chombo had also stopped him from constructing a $1,2 million service station and food court next to Matapi Police Station in Mbare. Mashamhanda claims the minister wanted the prime stand himself to develop a filling station there in partnership with Lebanese investors.

Harare City Council, police target more touts
DailyNews

Harare City Council and the police deployed 200 officers to monitor ranks in an operation to rid the city of touts. Council spokesperson Leslie Gwindi told journalists that the move was meant to bring sanity to commuter minibus ranks where touts were causing commotion and fleecing operators. Gwindi said it took long to deploy a work-force because the authority was consulting with partners, specifically the police, which he said was pivotal to the success of the operation. Gwindi said commuters should use the legal ranks to avoid being caught up in clashes

Council, police deploy at ranks
The Herald

Harare City Council and police finally deployed 200 officers at the city's 10 kombi ranks to maintain order following the removal of touts. Residents exerted pressure on council authorities to take action on the ranks after touts were flashed out. The City Spokesperson Mr Leslie Gwindi said the deployed staff comprises personnel from the traffic personnel unit, municipal police and ZRP Mr Gwindi said kombis without road service permits, rank disks, vehicle licences and route permits will be impounded. He said council will soon erect boom gates at all the designated ranks

Supplier delay ZESA meter plan
The Herald

ZESA Holdings gave two firms contracted to supply pre-paid meters a 14-day ultimatum to deliver or seal the deal. ZTE Corporation, a Chinese company and Nyamazela of South Africa were expected to deliver a combined 12 000 pre-paid meters early this year. The meters were supposed to be used for Zesa's pilot project on the installation of pre-paid meters. Zesa officials said ZTE only delivered 2000 pre-paid meters by plane after the ultimatum was issued. ZETDC senior project manager Eng. Wilfred Shereni said they were expecting 35 000 this month from local companies Solahart and Finmark. Zimbabwe has 60 000 registered consumers that should have pre-paid meters in the next 10 months. ZESA has installed 32 000 meters in Harare and Bulawayo since the project started in August. Eng. Chinembiri said plans were underway to appoint third party vending platforms for consumers to buy credit for pre-paid meters. At the moment, credit vending points are in selected ZETDC offices in Harare and Bulawayo.

I am stuck with dead wood: Chombo
The Herald

Corruption in mainly MDC-T led council is continuing unabated as it emerged the amendments made to the Urban Councils Act incapacitated Local Government, Rural and Urban Development minister Ignatius Chombo to effectively deal with the local authorities. In an interview with the Herald on corruption besetting most MDC-T run councils, Minister Chombo said the amendments to UCA two years ago took away his powers to dismiss incompetent councils. I can no longer dissolve councils because of the Urban Councils Act. This has created problems as I end up digging at the bottom of the barrel to look for someone who can lead the city. I end up working with incompetent councillors and councils.

City of Harare manager faces charges of abusing office
DailyNews

A City of Harare manager who lied to his employer over the completion of a sewer and water project in Tynwald appeared before a Harare magistrate on charges of criminally abusing his office. The Court heard Mashaire was responsible for the inspection and certification of all completed City of Harare sewer and water project. He would then send his inspection reports to the Director of water for the issuance of certificates of compliance, the court was told. It is alleged Mashaire originated inspection letters addressed to the director of water for an application of a certificate of compliance in respect of Harare's Tynwald Industrial Park in November last year. According to state papers, Mashaire lied that he had inspected the area's sewer system and the project was completed. As a result of the false presentations, City of Harare then issued a certification of compliance in respect of an unfinished project. According to state papers, what Mashaire did was inconsistent with his line of duty.

200 Epworth homes bulldozed as Harare announces "a blitz"
The Zimbabwe Situation

A government owned company demolished the homes of over 200 Epworth families, after giving them only 48hrs notice to vacate the premises. The development comes as the city of Harare embarks on what the city of Harare called a blitz to regularise shops and restore sanity. There are already concerns that the capital will face another mass demolition similar to "Operation Murambatsvina".

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