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Local government media tracker
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
August 16, 2013

Project begins
(The Herald)

Harare City Council with the help of a group of Chinese engineers has begun a three-year project that will see close to 80 percent of the city's residents receiving uninterrupted water supplies. The project is being financed through a US$144 million water and sanitation loan facility from the Import and Export Bank of China and will see the rehabilitation, replacement, installation and commissioning of the City’s water equipment. A group of Chinese engineers were in the country last week to help with project priorities such as Morton Jaffray Water Works, sewer treatment plants and water reticulation. "Once the project is finished, we expect Morton Jaffray Water Works to be working at full capacity and producing 650 mega litres daily," said Dr Mahachi (Town Clerk). The new technology also saves energy and this will see the city providing water to residents at a minimum cost. The City of Harare is struggling to supply clean and safe water to residents and most suburbs have had to bear with intermittent water supplies for the past six years.

Zinwa, Telone and Netone should also scrap outstanding bills
(The NewsDay)

It was a great relief for Harare residents and people from other urban areas when Ignatius Chombo, Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, scrapped water and rates bills just before the harmonised elections on July 31. It is a fact that many companies have scaled down or even closed down, resulting in no income for the residents. The little income they have goes to paying school fees and groceries. Councils have to up their game and come up with a plan as to how they will pay their bloated workforces, who in some cases are doing jobs that can be done by one person. Although this cancellation of debts may impact negatively on these institutions, government should by all means ensure workers are not deprived of their salaries. There is need to also downsize the workforce at some of these institutions because a huge chunk of revenue generated goes to salaries, leaving nothing for improving service. When the economy was dollarized in 2009, utility bills left many people owing so many hundreds of US dollars and no one knows what rate of exchange was used. Those that owed nothing before February 2009 discovered that they owed lots of US dollars. Zimbabweans want this nation restored to its former glory, and become the breadbasket of Africa again. The Sunshine City of Harare has lost its glitter. It’s all dark and scary especially at night. Streets are not well lit, potholes on our roads, cracked pavements, litter on the streets is what has become part of our capital city. Rail/road crossings and some major roads that lead into Harare’s residential areas has become a den for thieves that pounce on unsuspecting passers by. Long grass and scattered rubbish is a clear testimony of a council that has reneged on its obligations.

Harare writes off US $330 million rates arrears
(The Herald)

Harare City Council has written off debts amounting to US$330 million in line with a Government directive to scrap debts owed by residents from February 2009 to June 30, 2013. A few days before the elections Government ordered all 92 rural and urban councils to write-off debts owed by residents since February 2009 to June this year. This followed complaints by residents' associations over arrears caused by unjustified increases in rates and bills by councils especially in urban areas. Ratepayers and businesses that were up to date with their payments will enjoy a 30 percent discount until December as an incentive for their good behaviour. On average the high-density composite bill is US$25 per month which means each household is required to pay that amount to the city to be in a position to enjoy requisite service delivery such as garbage collection, road maintenance, grass cutting, health and water delivery. CITY

Waste disposal
(The Herald)

Incoming Harare councillors have been urged to give priority to waste management to prevent the outbreak of water borne diseases. In recent years, improper waste disposal contributed to the upsurge of diseases such as cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea and increased pollution within the city. Mr Keith Charumbira (Harare Residents Alliance Coordinator) said the outgoing council had failed to provide essential services to the ratepayers. Mr Charumbira encouraged residents to be responsive to awareness campaigns on environmental management by heeding calls to recycle and carefully dispose of waste which cannot be recycled.

ZESA told to write off individual consumer bills
(The Zimdiaspora)

Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo implored national power utility Zesa and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) to write off individual consumers' utility debts in line with Zanu-PF policies. Chombo said there was no logic in Zesa and Zinwa continuing to pursue the debts, saying it was Zanu-PF's belief that people were being disadvantaged. Commercial and household customers owe Zesa in excess of $700 million in unpaid bills. Last month, Chombo ordered local authorities to write off all outstanding residential bills, in a move that was widely viewed as a Zanu-PF vote-buying gimmick. Although Chombo could not shed light on what would happen to those who were fully paid up, impeccable government sources said councils were considering extending discounts to pay up consumers. Meanwhile, The Zimbabwe Urban Councils Workers' Union (ZUCWU) has indicated that it will seek audience with Chombo to press him to reverse his decision on debt cancellations. Critics say the cancellation of debts will cripple local authorities and this will negatively affect service delivery.

City fathers meet Chinese engineers
(The Herald)

Harare's caretaker council has met a visiting delegation of engineers from China as part of a deal that will result in the city's water department receiving assistance in addressing the perennial water shortages. Town Clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi said in an interview that the visit was part of the process towards a U$144 million loan deal from the Export Import Bank of China. "The engineers were in the country for two weeks and are helping us with the priorities towards the full implementation of the programme," said Dr Mahachi. Harare City Council together with the director of water Engineer Christopher Zvobgo visited China last week to map out the details of the asset supply plan, loan disbursement and selection of suppliers for the city's water department. Once received, the money was expected to increase the availability of water. The city is supplying only 614 mega litres a day against a demand of 1300 mega litres. Harare City Council signed the agreement with the Chinese in 2011 as a result of cordial relations between the country and Zimbabwe.

Harare City fails to pay workers
(The NewsDay)

Harare City Council (HCC) employees have not yet been paid their July salaries as it emerged yesterday that the local authority has affected the order by Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo to scrap all unpaid bills incurred by individual consumers to local authorities across the country. Chombo last month announced the cancellation of all local authorities’ rates and other bills owed by residents from February 2009 to June 2013. Council workers told News Day that they did not know when they would be paid given the liquidity constraints and cancellation of debts by the minister. HCC spokesperson Leslie Gwindi, however, said the issue of non-payment of salaries at Town House had nothing to do with the government directive as the local authorities have always staggered payment of salaries. Harare City Council requires $3 million to purchase water chemicals monthly, among other requirements.

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