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City of Harare consultations in brief
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
October 30, 2013

Below is a snap-shot of the meetings that we observed as CHRA. For most of the meetings we tried to vigorously distribute flyers despite the short notice from council. However, we were disappointed to note that the meetings could not draw huge crowds as we anticipated. This was necessitated by the poor communication from council to the communities hence people failed to properly attend these.

Ward Time Date Issues
30,31,32
(Glen View)
 14:00-16:00hrs 27 Oct 13
  • Around 170 -175 residents attended the meeting which translate to about 55 people per ward
  • Rejected prepaid meters
  • Residents proposed the replacement of sewerage pipes to solve the perennial problem of sewer burst
  • Proposed that City of Harare must run electricity
  • Sunday was not an appropriate date most people were at church people started coming when the meeting was almost over.
46 10:00-13:00hrs 26 Oct 13
  • Approximately 35-40 people attended the meeting
  • Meeting started at 11.13 am about 1 hour late but the meeting ended around 1:00pm
  • Residents were not informed in time, fliers for invitations were distributed late, also commencing meetings at 10:00am collided with household activities and most people had gone to their fields
10 14:00hrs-16:00hrs 26 Oct 13
  • 170-190
11 &12 14:00-16:00hrs 27
  • 20-25 people attended
  • Many people had gone to churches because the meeting was held on a Sunday
  • There were some showers which might also have contributed to poor attendance
  • People did not know of the meeting (not informed in time)
37    
  • NOT REACHABLE
35 14:00-16:00 26 Oct 13
  • 150-180
  • Residents were informed about the meeting through a hailer on the day of the meeting
  • Fliers for CoH were distributed Saturday morning 5 hours before the meeting time
45 10:00hr-13:00hrs 27 Oct 13
  • Fliers were distributed on Saturday around 8:00am but Tynwald South fliers were distributed on the day of the meeting
14 14:00hrs-16:00hrs 26 Oct 13
  • 300-310 attended
  • CHRA and Councillor worked together to mobilise residents using door to door campaign strategy giving out fliers on Friday afternoon
20 14:00hrs-16:00 27 Oct 13
  • The venue was double booked (used by a church) meeting started one hour and thirty minutes late.
  • Meeting started around 3:20pm and ended up around 5:00pm
  • Many people who came for the meeting went back home when the meeting failed to take off at the scheduled time.
  • 150-160 people attended
19 14:00hrs-16:00hrs 26 Oct 13
  • Approximately 200-220 residents attended
  • Residents rejected prepaid water meters
  • Meeting started in time fliers were distributed on Friday afternoon both CHRA and City of Harare fliers
  • Meeting started and ended with residents being given ample time to make their input
24 10:00-13:00hrs 26 Oct 13
  • 90-100 attended
  • Fliers were attached on statements for rates distributed on Thursday and Friday
  • Residents demanded the construction of a road that link Highfield and Waterfalls as a project that need urgency
  • Meeting ended and started on time and residents participated well
25&26    
34   23 Oct 13
  • Approximately 180-200 residents
  • Councillor used fliers to mobilise residents
  • Residents not aware of budget issues but were given time to air their views
  • Meeting started in time and ended in time
28&29 10:00-13:00hrs 27 Oct 13
  • 77-80 residents attended
  • Fliers were distributed, however, it rained and this attributed to low turnout
  • Council not explaining expenditure on revenue generated and prepaid meters was ignored even though it was raised.
  • Meeting started in time
44 14:00hrs-16:00hrs 26 Oct 13
  • 22 people attended
  • It rained, notification of the meeting was late
  • Residents not aware of what are budget consultative meetings

Summary

Generally in areas where the local Councillor worked with residents committees other than people of his or her party a larger turnout was witnessed for example in Kambuzuma Ward 14 which had approximately 350 residents attending from one Ward and Ward 34 Mufakose which had 200. These meetings were not held on a Sunday where most people had gone to their religious activities. The late release and accessibility of dates of the meetings to residents Associations also contributed to a lower turn out. Some of these meetings were poorly planned as witnessed in Ward 21 Tafara where the meeting had to start after negotiations with the Pastors since the Hall is used for church services every Sunday. Ward 46 meeting started an hour late with many people going back to their homes.

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