Portfolio Committee to hear submissions on commission running Harare

By Tererai Karimakwenda
29 August 2005

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has been invited by the parliamentary portfolio committee on local government to submit their opinions on the state of the capital city and the commission that is running it. The submissions are on Tuesday, and it is quite obvious that CHRA will not give the Sekesai Makwavarara commission a good report. The Residents' Association has been challenging the extension of the term of the commissioners running Harare. They had filed an urgent court application which Judge Makoni declined in July, saying there was no urgency and that CHRA must follow the normal channels.

CEO Barnabus Mangodza told us the normal route could take months at the pace that the judicial system is functioning right now. The Urban Councils Act requires elections to be held before the current term of a commission expires. Local government minister Ignatius Chombo imposed this commission on Harare after illegally suspending the elected mayor Elias Mudzuri.

Mr Mangodza said there have already been complaints by various sections of the community about corruption, unclear tender procedures, lack of accountability and selective use of by-laws by the commission. The portfolio committee on local government will hear about all this on Tuesday. Whether there will be any positive outcome from this only time will tell, but after having been denied the urgent court application, CHRA officials most definitely look forward to this opportunity.