Kuwadzana Extension- the Harare Residents? Trust (HRT) is seriously concerned with the attitude of the City of Harare towards residents, following widespread water disconnections over unpaid rates. This action represents the arrogance of the local authority when dealing with sensitive issues. The HRT reiterates that water disconnections are illegal and should not be tolKey Facts to Know about the Water Crisis:
? Rates and water charges are indicated on one sheet of paper. This creates confusion on what aspect of the bills they are dealing with.
? Residents cannot and will not pay for estimated water bills.
? If one pays part of their outstanding bill, the following month the bills increase to unjustified levels, not indicating any payments made earlier.
? The City of Harare has obsolete billing equipment, meaning their billing system is outdated and remains inconsistent.
? The water charges as represented by the bills dispatched to residents represent illegality because the purported charges were set without residents? input, and it is part of the case filed by the HRT?s representatives on 18 March 2011 in the High Court under Case Number HC2830/ 11.
Given these facts, the HRT urges residents of Harare to intensify their refusal to pay all outstanding bills to the City of Harare until;
a. Finalization of the Court Case which has been filed top contest the 2011 City Budget.
b. The City of Harare has reduced the rates to levels demanded by the residents.
In the meantime residents are urged to pay at most US$15 for all rates, including water, refuse, and supplementary charges. Because of the unrepentant attitude of the City of Harare, residents in their numbers are urged to make court applications demanding compensation from the City of Harare for the damage on their vehicles due to the many potholes on their roads. There is a precedent to this matter. On Friday 9 February 2007, the High Court ordered the City of Harare to pay top banker Ms Pindie Nyandoro Z$1, 6 million in damages for damages to her top-of-the-range Mercedes Benz vehicle after hitting a pothole while driving along Enterprise Road.
The HRT condemns the behavior of City officials who have let down the residents by carrying out illegal instructions to disconnect water- a right that cannot be taken away for any treason, considering the impact of water shortages.
Post published in: News