Call for Chombo to resign as cholera takes more lives in Epworth

By Tererai Karimakwenda
17 February 2006

Harare residents are calling for the resignation of the minister of local government Ignatius Chombo after it was announced that 5 more people had died from cholera in Epworth during the past week. An official at The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) told us last week that residents want the illegal commission running the capital to be removed, and for Minister Chombo to organize fresh elections. Trude Stevenson, MDC Shadow Minister of Local Government, said Chombo himself must go as well. She pointed to the continued spread of cholera as further shocking testament to the total failure of his Ministry to provide the infrastructure and services necessary for a clean environment.

Trude Stevenson released a statement saying it is clear that the evil Operation Murambatsvina has resulted in even greater danger to health, even though the government claims it was meant to “clean up” the country. She said the ineptitude of the unelected Makwavarara Commission and its parent Ministry, has created a state of total chaos in the Harare area. As a result, Stevenson believes residents would be within their rights to reconsider the validity of paying their rates and charges to a commission which is both unelected and so clearly failing to run their city. She said meanwhile, the Minister Chombo should be honourable enough to resign and allow order to return to the City of Harare.