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Local government media tracker - Week ending 26 November 2012
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
November 27, 2012

ZESA cries foul over government directive to stop disconnections
Sunday Mail

ZESA Holdings says it might be forced to scale down operations owing to crippling financial problems brought about by a Government directive to halt cutting supplies to defaulting electricity customers. Eng Chinembiri said the parastatal was struggling to remain afloat as a result of restricted revenue inflows. "We are not getting any money to buy electricity, yet we have been directed to give everyone electricity for free. It is now difficult for us to provide efficient services considering that people are not settling their debts".

"He said ZESA Holdings would not resume supplies to those affected by the power disconnections prior to the directive unless they settle their arrears. Contacted for comment, Energy and Power Development Minister Mr Elton Mangoma said Zesa Holdings was using wrong channels to address the matter. "I have nothing to comment. If Zesa has a problem with the directive, they should approach me, not the press," he said.

Council probe reveals political abuse of power
The Zimbabwean

A probe into the awarding of tenders and the allocation of space for car sales and outdoor advertising has revealed massive abuse that deprived the Harare City Council of huge sums of money. In an explosive report, the probe team, appointed by Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo in September 2012, unearthed details of how politicians abused their influence to engage in fraudulent deals. The results revealed how officials from the City's Department of Engineering Services received life threatening messages from anonymous callers following plans to pull down some illegal outdoor advertising structures. According to the probe report, the anonymous callers claimed to represent some political interests. "At least 50% of the billboards are illegally and wrongfully placed. The Director of Urban Planning revealed that the council has not been able to quantify the total number of illegal bill boards in Harare," reads the report. Of the 200 car sales operating in Harare, the team found that only 47 have lease agreements, and of those only three meet the town planning requirements. It was noted that only one of the 47 car sales was in full compliance with licensing requirements.

Chombo punishing us: Gokwe
The Zimbabwean

The cotton-growing town of Gokwe has been suffering the suspension of top officials by local government Minister Ignatius Chombo. For the better part of this year, Gokwe, which won town status in 2006, has been operating without two of its officials-a Council Chairperson and Town Secretary. MDC-T council chairperson, Darlington Mudondo, was suspended by Chombo on 27 June 2012. Secretary, Tapiwa Marongwe, was suspended by the Minister in February 2012. They were accused of corruption. Until now, Mudondo has not been called for a hearing. This has prompted his lawyers to approach the High Court demanding reinstatement of the Town Chairperson. Council officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said numerous projects initiated by Marongwe were on standstill. "Gokwe has perennial water problems and poor drainage facilities. Marongwe had started sourcing funds to rectify this from banks and that was at an advanced stage," said one official. However, since the confusion brought by Chombo by suspending him and the failure to wrap up the matter, the projects have been stalled. Other officials said there was a political hand in the suspensions of Marongwe and Mudondo.

Churches in clean-up campaign
Daily News

Churches in Harares Kambuzuma and Rugare high density suburbs have taken the initiative of cleaning up their communities as the local authority grapples with waste management. The fraternity of churches-with 18 member churches collaborated with City of Harare, Miracle Missions, Couriers Swift, Residents Associations', Environmental Management Agency and local leadership, to raise awareness on the importance of environmental protection. Pastor Phanuel Goredema from Fraternity said the initiative was a result of churches, noting Kambuzuma was sitting on a time bomb because of irresponsible garbage dumping by residents. Kambuzuma residents said they gained a lot of knowledge from the clean- up and were ready to polish their environment. Also picking up litter was the legislator for Kambuzuma, Willias Madzimure and councillors who said they had been invited by their community.

Harare water chemicals were not cleared
Daily News

Sodium Cyanide which was delivered to Morton Jaffray water works for water treatment was not cleared at the border, the court heard. Environmental Management Agency Provincial Manager Kingston Chitotombe told the court during the trial of Farai Muchenje, Simon Demhe, Appronalise Mupakaviri and Tiki Tarwirei that Demhe, who was driving the truck, did not clear the consignment at the border. The four are accused of conspiring to deliver the sodium cyanide instead of aluminium sulphate at the Harare water works. Also giving evidence, Teddy Mafuko, the Harare City Council's Quality Assurance Manager told the court the chemical could have caused the death of almost three million people in and around Harare had it been used. Their lawyer Nicholas Chikono said the charge the four are facing is conspiracy to deliver sodium cyanide not conspiracy to discharge the chemical as claimed by the state in the charge sheet.

Be wary of bogus land developers, avoid risky deals
The Herald

Zimbabweans should be wary of bogus land developers and estate agents. Buyers should not deal with any developer who has no tangible track record or has no known area they have developed before and handed to beneficiaries without hiccups. No genuine developer sells stands or houses while hiding their company name. Home seekers should not be tempted by the huge discounts and soft payment terms. Visit the area being developed and check who owns the place, how long it has been serviced or whether it has been serviced at all. Also check whether the developer has rights to that land. You also need to check with Cde Ignatius Chombo's Local Government Ministry (for state land), City/Town councils for the status of the said piece of land, deeds office for deeds status and real estate agents council for the agent's credentials.

Suspended Gwanda Mayor challenges Chombo
NewsDay

Suspended Gwanda Mayor Lionel De Necker filed an urgent High Court chamber application seeking to order Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo to stop a disciplinary hearing against him, describing the move as unlawful. De Necker made the application after Chombo appointed a committee two weeks ago to drag the mayor before a disciplinary hearing. Chombo in April 2012 suspended De Necker for allegedly refusing to appoint a suspected Zanu PF sympathiser Priscilla Nkala as the town's chamber secretary. The Minister accused the Mayor of insubordination by defying his orders. However, De Necker has since challenged the legality of his suspension at the Bulawayo High Court under case number 1814/12 and the matter is yet to be heard.

Probe team gets Chombo golden handshake
NewsDay

The probe team tasked by Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo to investigate allegations of gross mismanagement by fired Chinhoyi mayor Claudius Nyamhondoro and two MDC-T councillors, has reportedly been awarded with a $30 000 golden handshake by the minister. According to documents shown to Newsday, Chombo ordered the local authority to pay $22 000 to board chairperson, only identified as J Mutevedzi, and $8 000 to P Lubombo, although council sources claimed the pair did not preside over any hearing after the three accused refused to attend the hearings. Councillors expressed anger at Chombo;s actions, which they said were bleeding an already struggling council. Chombo dismissed the three on allegations of corruption and incompetence.

Residents speak on the 2012 City of Harare and National Budget
The Zimbabwean

The ward leadership of the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has come out open in demand of effective and efficient service delivery by 2013. A compendium of comments has been gathered which speaks the feelings of residents with regards to the city of Harare 2013 budget and national budget.

Simbarashe Moyo-Budiriro CHRA chairperson: Harare City Council needs to improve in terms of planning, revenue generation and implementation of service delivery. This calls for a multi stakeholder approach which involves residents, NGOs, government and the private sector.

Charles Beni-Highfield CHRA Secretary: It is important for the city of Harare to consider the issue of water seriously because people are complaining very much in terms of the quality and quantity.

Neta Ndaba- Glen View CHRA Membership Chairperson: Each and every time we are consulted, there is always a proposal of increasing the money that is paid towards refuse collection but ironically we have uncollected refuse piles that have accumulated at Glen View1 and three shops.

Sydney Zata- Dzivarasekwa ward coordinator: What we always hear people discuss concerning the budget is always about water. However, if you take a tour of Dzivarasekwa apart from water problems you will realise that H.C.C has sort of neglected us here because the housing and general sanitation issues are our main concern.

Byo vows to defy Chombo again
The Zimbabwean

The City Council vowed to defy Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo's directive to sell council shops to Zanu PF supporters. In September the council invited tenders for the lease of 52 shops which the previous Zanu-PF dominated council had leased to its supporters. Chombo immediately ordered the council to withdraw the tender, insisting that it sell the shops to the sitting tenants. "If you remove those people I will fight the move. I will fight you even if you use the legal channel," Chombo told councillors last week. The deputy mayor, Amen Mpofu, said the council would not be bothered by Chombo's order. This is not the first time Chombo has clashed with the MDC-T dominated council.

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