Residents, numbering over three hundred gathered at Rugare shops to demand that the HRT represents them against the City of Harare over their huge debts. They said they want all debt to be written off, water quality and quantity should improve and property attachments must be halted with immediate effect, threatening to defend their properties if the exercise continues.
The residents organised themselves, led by the HRT community mobilisers and leadership, following up on the demonstration, staged at Town House over huge debts and poor water delivery.
In addressing the residents, the HRT Director Precious Shumba said: “The City of Harare survives on money generated from the residents of Harare, and should not be seen fighting the poor by taking away their properties. The Messenger of Court is acting on the instructions of the City Treasury Department, despite vehement objections from the councillors who are our policymakers. Senior council management has a lot to benefit from this exercise as it helps them raise money to pay bonuses, allowances and huge salaries to their workers, yet they have not collected refuse from the communities.”
The latest blitz against defaulting and impoverished residents come in the wake of repeated claims by the HRT that there is an apparent fallout between the senior management of council and the elected councillors over policy issues. This discord was further exhibited during the last Full Council meeting held at Town House on Thursday 8 November 2012 where elected councillors sought an explanation from the Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda on who had authorised the attachment of residents’ properties in Rugare, among other communities. In response the Mayor downplayed the issue, raising the ire of other councillors who accused the Mayor of being insincere in handling this political issue, with the potential to cost them votes in upcoming elections. The Mayor defended council management.
At this meeting, residents raised serious issues of alleged corruption and manipulation of their accounts by officials in the City Treasury Department, who they accused of railroading them to sign payment plans papers, agreeing to settle estimated and unjustifiably exorbitant debts, putting the residents at the mercy of council officials who are only keen on increasing their revenue base without investing in improving service delivery.
Another meeting, convened by the local councillor at the local grounds took place at the same time as the HRT’s meeting over the same issue. The sentiments echoed by the residents at these two separate meetings were similar.
The Ward 14 Councillor Peter Moyo said as council they never authorised the attachment of residents’ properties, and were concerned that this was being done by errant council managers who wanted to raise money by punishing the poor.
“Let no one come to your house and attach your property. From now on this must end. We are engaging various people in authority to bring this madness to an end. It is the responsibility of the residents to defend their rights and fight for each other during times like these, when your property is threatened for being poor.”
The HRT Director also addressed this gathering and assured residents that the only way to succeed against bullying council managers is through a united front, targeting the District Offices at strategic times when the council expects to receive monthly rental and rates from the residents.
“Residents must know the pressure points and milking cow for the City of Harare and target it in order to elicit a positive response,” he said. “All debt accumulated between February 2009 to December 2010 should be written off and water deliveries must be improved without fail by 30 November 2012. If they have not responded to these issues by then, the residents should mobilise to gather at the district offices and tilt the balance of power by restoring residents’ rights and ownership of the City.”
More meetings are lined up across Harare suburbs to instil confidence and galvanise the residents’ resolve against council’s bully tactics. It should be made categorical to the Harare city management that as long as the residents’ concerns are not being genuinely addressed, the power and impetus of the residents to demand their rights will rise by the day. The HRT commends the residents resolve to tackle the city management because their demands are legitimate and their issues are genuine, seeking responsible leadership to intervene and find a lasting solution to the crisis of governance at Town House.
Post published in: News