CHRA+mobilizing+Harare+residents+to+defend+their+rights

CHRA Press Statement, Wed, 18 Oct 2006 08:35:39 +0200
=CHRA succeeds in mobilizing residents to defend their rights=

THE Combined Harare Residents’ Association (CHRA) is buoyed by recent statements from the City of Harare, in particular the admission that residents owe the municipality over 4,6 billion dollars (Z$4,6 trillion old dollars) in unpaid rates and charges. We reiterate our call to residents to refuse to fund the illegal Commission sitting at Town House and to withhold all rates and charges until our democratic right to elect our representatives is restored.

Furthermore the City’s admission that residents have not paid water rates imposed by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority in May 2006 indicates the level of dissatisfaction with the imposition of ZINWA by the regime. Harare’s water woes will not be resolved by the insertion of a bloodsucking parasite in the food chain. The first step must be the restoration of a legitimate Council that has a mandate from residents and that can engage with all stakeholders to find a solution. The water crisis is essentially a political one and can only be resolved politically.

It is unfortunate that municipal employees resort to threats in their attempts to coerce payments from residents. CHRA has no argument with those officials trying to do their jobs under very difficult and trying circumstances but we reject such threats as misinformed and unjustified. We advise municipal employees to keep their heads down and refrain from making political statements to intimidate residents. Residents of Harare, represented by CHRA, are resolute and will defend their rights. The City of Harare should realize that it has neither the capacity nor the legality to engage residents in such battles.

Water disconnections are illegal. At most, the City can reduce the flow of water to a consumer but water is a human right whatever the circumstances. CHRA will continue to defend those principled residents who refuse to fund the corrupt, illegal and unaccountable Commission. The threats issued by the municipality will soon backfire as residents fully implement their boycott agenda inspired by CHRA’s slogans ‘Do Not Fund Your Own Oppression’ and ‘No Taxation Without Representation’,

CHRA has engaged in appeals to the regime as well as to the courts to restore legitimate government at Town House to no avail. The failure of the judiciary to protect residents from a callous and rapacious regime has left us with no choice but to engage in civil disobedience. We will continue to mobilize residents to resist tyranny at Town House and elsewhere. The Association’s 2 July General Council resolution commits the organization to campaign for rates boycotts, holding of public meetings and staging decentralized, peaceful demonstrations against the City of Harare for poor service delivery.

The City of Harare is reminded that it is in a contractual position to supply water to residents. It should address questions of legitimacy and technical issues (water supply, quality, pricing, billing, etc) before threatening residents who are ultimately the owners of the city.

CHRA launched an objection letter campaign in August encouraging residents to object to new tariffs imposed by ZINWA. The Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development indicated subsequently that the new rates would be reversed. If the City of Harare decides to be confrontational and proceeds to act outside the law, then CHRA will be left with no option but to respond in the best interests of residents.

=**COMBINED HARARE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION**=


 * P O Box HR 7870,** **HARARE**
 * Daventry House, Room 103**
 * CELL: 011 862 012, 011 612 860**
 * 011 443 578, 091 924 151**
 * E-mail: chrainfo@zol.co.zw**
 * Website:** [|**www.chra.co.zw**]

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