This is the first of their reports:
Mbare Musika:
The police and army are currently carrying out a joint operation with the National Incomes and Pricing Commission (NIPC) but have mainly targeted Mbare Musika. On Friday they confiscated tons of sugar, salt, rice, maize meal and dried fish on sale. Witnesses to this crude operation have narrated their ordeals to the Trust and have reported seeing mostly women vendors being harassed by the police.
Vegetable vendors in other suburbs who make daily trips to Mbare Musika to make bulk purchases are being searched and questioned. It is still unclear why they are doing it but the trust has it on good authority that the council and the police will soon move into the residential areas as a follow up to Operation Murambatsvina by checking on the new houses being built. People have become very much frightened and we hope the council will discuss these issues with the Mbare Residents Trust to know what is going on. So much of the confiscated goods have been stocked at the Mbare Police Station or outside the municipal offices at Mbare Musika waiting to be taken elsewhere.
The other key issue is that some vendors who run market stalls in Mbare Musika have been ordered to vacate their places after being accused by the Zanu (PF) militant group Chipangano of voting for the MDC in the 29 March harmonized elections. The Trust constantly receives reports from residents on the security situation, rates and services, environment and health in Mbare. Â
Power Cuts:
The suburb has experienced power outages that have disrupted main activities at household and industrial level. There are times when there is no power for three days, e.g. on 27, 28 and 29 April the whole suburb was plunged into darkness.
ZESA always responds late and sometimes residents are forced to make monetary contributions buy components needed for the restoration of power.
Along Nyazika Street at the corner of Vito Street, a concrete electricity pole has fallen across the street but ZESA has not responded. Residents wanted to remove the pole from the street, which is mainly used by commuter omnibuses to Mbare National but there was lack of cooperation from council and ZESA in terms of permission. The community feared that the cables would be transmitting live electricity. Â
Burst Sewerage:
There are burst sewer pipes where raw sewage is flowing along major streets in Mbare, like Sixth Street, Ruredzo Street into Seventh Avenue. This is the second time in one month. City of Harare employees are failing to repair the burst pipes.
Response:
The Trust has dispatched its leadership to engage with the police and the Department of Works to ensure the safety of Mbare residents against further abuse and harassment. At the same time, the Trust continues to mobilize the citizens for collective response through positive engagement with key issues that affect their daily lives. The Trust is open to dialogue with all key stakeholders that have interests in Mbare.
Post published in: News