CHRA’s call for mass boycott of rates gathers momentum

By Tichaona Sibanda
28 March 2006

Harare residents have been urged to become part of a broad-based movement and stop paying their rates as a way of forcing city authorities to consider their concerns.

Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) spokesman Precious Shumba said apart from the rates boycott, the capital’s residents are now awakening from their slumber to join hands in their struggle to free themselves of commission bondage.

CHRA insists that the Sekesai Makwavarara commission has long ignored advice and avoided strategic meetings with residents. Some of the residents however have also come under fire for distancing themselves from fighting city authorities.

‘We are urging them to stop being individualistic and become part of a movement of residents fighting to regain their city,’ said Shumba.

Not so long ago Harare was dubbed the ‘sunshine city’ but lately, piles of uncollected garbage, potholes and streams of sewage all confirm the collapse of service delivery.

In another show of spectacular mismanagement it was reported Tuesday that city authorities have decided to splash out Z$1,45 trillion to buy 300 vehicles and trucks for its managers and field staff.

‘This goes to show that the illegal Harare commission running the city is arrogant and irresponsible. We have a city flowing with human waste and mountains of uncollected garbage and the first thing that comes to their minds is to buy themselves corporate vehicles,’ said Shumba.

As a result he said there were determined calls for total rates boycott and business would be mobilised to support the cause, adding that residents resolved recently to mobilise for resistance against rates hikes, collapsed delivery and the illegal commission running the affairs of the Harare.

Shumba said CHRA was also worried that residents’ money was going towards the suppression of citizens through corruption and mismanagement of the municipality.