By Violet Gonda
19 February 2010
On Friday Harare residents and other stakeholders made submissions on the appalling service delivery in the capital city, to the Parliament Committee on Local Government, Rural and Urban Development. The Committee was conducting public hearings on service delivery, water and roads.
Precious Shumba, the coordinator of the Harare Residents' Trust, told SW Radio Africa the major concerns for the residents included the poor performance of elected councillors and the meddling of the Minister of Local Government Ignatius Chombo.
He pointed out: “The powers of the Local Government Minister are excessive and he meddles in the running of these Councils to the extent that councillors and the Mayor have been rendered powerless, yet Heads of Department and the Town Clerk have become so protected by the Minister.”
The residents accuse Chombo of abusing his ministerial powers to block council resolutions. Shumba said the City Council resolved last year to suspend the Town Clerk, Michael Mahachi, on allegations of corruption but that the Minister intervened and blocked the suspension.
Service delivery in Harare, like the rest of the country, is extremely poor but residents are still being charged high bills. Refuse remains uncollected and water and power cuts continue. “They prioritise high salaries and purchase top of the range vehicles for heads of departments, while neglecting the needs of the residents,” Shumba said.
He said the Parliamentary Committee will deliberate on the submissions and will call Chombo in to respond, due to the overwhelming demand from people to rein in the minister.
Shumba said Councillor Herbert Gomba from Ward 27 Glen Norah tried to use the excuse that the city council was bankrupt, but that he failed dismally to respond to the issue of service delivery.
The residents want the local government to be part of the constitution and not an act of parliament. They also want local authorities to be decentralised, to ensure that resources are equally distributed and they want to work with their elected representatives and service providers on a non-partisan basis.
In their submission to parliament residents said: “The City of Harare should prioritise service provision, refuse collection, water and sewer infrastructure rehabilitation, purchase of maintenance of refuse trucks and charge affordable rates before allocating more resources towards huge salary perks to heads of departments and administration.”
Friday, February 19, 2010
Angry civil servants vow to intensify strike action
By Alex Bell
19 February 2010
More than two thousand angry civil servants who gathered in Harare on Friday have vowed to intensify their strike action if the government does not meet their demands for a wage increase.
A meeting of civil servants in the capital had been organised for workers’ unions to provide feedback to their members, who have been on strike for two weeks over the government’s refusal to increase its wage bill. The strike has mainly affected public schools, hospitals, government departments and the courts. Civil servants unions have demanded that their wages be increased from the current US$150 to US$630, and they’ve rejected a 10 percent increase offer from the government.
The two thousand strong group of civil servants who gathered in Harare on Friday embarked on a march, after hearing that the government has refused to change its 10 percent wage increase offer. Leaders from various workers’ unions led the group through the streets of central Harare and presented signed petitions at Parliament and the offices of the Ministers of Finance and Public Service.
SW Radio Africa correspondent Simon Muchemwa reported that some workers were ‘agitated’ during the march when they realised that some of their colleagues were on duty in the government buildings they marched to. They were further angered when they were denied an audience at Finance Minister Tendai Biti’s office, which was locked because Biti is out of the country. Muchemwa said many workers’ believed that the empty office was ‘intentional’, because “no one in government wanted to accept the workers’ petition.”
“It took several hours of dancing and singing at the Minister of Finance’s office before they eventually handed their petition to a security guard,” Muchemwa reported. “They were angry that no one in government was willing to receive the petition.”
The civil servants’ unions have now vowed to intensify their action by not only remaining on strike, but also by having protracted ‘sit-ins’ at their places of work. Muchemwa reported that the move was to ensure “no worker was being threatened into defying the strike action.” Teachers’ unions have also called on parents to stop paying incentives, saying it would be tantamount to “squeezing water from a stone.”
The unions said that they will carry on with their strike and sit-in until March 5, and warned that the strike with further intensify, if the government refuses to increase its offer.
19 February 2010
More than two thousand angry civil servants who gathered in Harare on Friday have vowed to intensify their strike action if the government does not meet their demands for a wage increase.
A meeting of civil servants in the capital had been organised for workers’ unions to provide feedback to their members, who have been on strike for two weeks over the government’s refusal to increase its wage bill. The strike has mainly affected public schools, hospitals, government departments and the courts. Civil servants unions have demanded that their wages be increased from the current US$150 to US$630, and they’ve rejected a 10 percent increase offer from the government.
The two thousand strong group of civil servants who gathered in Harare on Friday embarked on a march, after hearing that the government has refused to change its 10 percent wage increase offer. Leaders from various workers’ unions led the group through the streets of central Harare and presented signed petitions at Parliament and the offices of the Ministers of Finance and Public Service.
SW Radio Africa correspondent Simon Muchemwa reported that some workers were ‘agitated’ during the march when they realised that some of their colleagues were on duty in the government buildings they marched to. They were further angered when they were denied an audience at Finance Minister Tendai Biti’s office, which was locked because Biti is out of the country. Muchemwa said many workers’ believed that the empty office was ‘intentional’, because “no one in government wanted to accept the workers’ petition.”
“It took several hours of dancing and singing at the Minister of Finance’s office before they eventually handed their petition to a security guard,” Muchemwa reported. “They were angry that no one in government was willing to receive the petition.”
The civil servants’ unions have now vowed to intensify their action by not only remaining on strike, but also by having protracted ‘sit-ins’ at their places of work. Muchemwa reported that the move was to ensure “no worker was being threatened into defying the strike action.” Teachers’ unions have also called on parents to stop paying incentives, saying it would be tantamount to “squeezing water from a stone.”
The unions said that they will carry on with their strike and sit-in until March 5, and warned that the strike with further intensify, if the government refuses to increase its offer.
Harare Residents' Trust Submission to the Parliament on service delivery in Harare
SUMMARY REPORT OF HIGHFIELD RESIDENTS’ MEETING ON SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY 2010
VENUE: CJ COMMUNITY HALL
IN ATTENDANCE:
- Mabvuku residents’ Trust Leadership
- Harare East residents’ Trust leadership
- Warren Park Residents’ Leadership
- Mbare Residents’ leadership
- Glen Norah B’ Residents Leadership
- Kuwadzana Residents Leadership
- Mabelreign Residents’ Leadership
- Board of Trustees Chairperson- Emilia Chakatsva
- Precious Shumba, HRT Coordinator
- Fullard Gwasira, ZESA Holdings
- Shepherd Mandizvidza, ZESA Holdings
- Highfield Legal Centre
Highfield- AN attempt by a Councillor here to split the nearly 400 residents’ along partisan lines flopped when residents vehemently resisted and demanded that the councillor should account for his alleged involvement in the displacement of residents from their residential places and his alleged failure to represent their interests in council.
Ward 25 Councillor, Silas Machetu attempted to ride on the historical polarisation between parties in the Inclusive Government, based on the presence of residents in the audience he suspected of being his political opponents.
Residents wanted to know the council’s policy on houses belonging to the council, and asked why council officials and councillors were at the forefront of trying to replace the sitting tenants without due regard to justice. Serious allegations of complicity in the repossessions of council houses were levelled against the councillors, in particular Councillors Maxwell Katsande (Ward 26) and Machetu. Katsande left in a huff after failing to stomach the criticism. Ward 24 Councillor Job Mbadzi was also in attendance and promised to cooperate with residents.
The Harare Residents’ Trust (HRT) specifically invited the councillors to provide them with an opportunity to update residents on the programmes of the City of Harare and also to respond to issues of concern affecting their constituents. However, following brief speeches by the HRT Chairperson, Emilia Chakatsva and the Coordinator Precious Shumba, Councillor Machetu misread the situation. Instead of providing information to residents, he went on the defensive, clouding his focus and thinking with his emotions, making partisan statements.
Residents immediately reacted by booing him and asking him to explain his role in the raised matters. Unable to handle the sudden demand for personal accountability, Councillor Machetu walked out, making all kinds of allegations, ranging from being his political opponents, fools and to being ignorant people. Outside, angry residents berated him for being childish, disrespectful, and incompetent. The Highfield Residents’ Trust leadership attempted to control him but he left only to return 20 minutes later, calmer. He was then given a second chance and he promised to work with residents and cooperate on their issues.
HRT Issues: By Mrs Emilia Chakatsva (Board Chairperson) and Precious Shumba (Coordinator)
- Women constitute 52 percent of the total population but were inadequately represented in the City of Harare, where only five of the 46 elected councillors are women.
- The residents and service providers should engage and find best alternatives to improve the lives of residents. This is in line with the HRT vision of engaging all stakeholders in the development of the City.
- Elected representatives and council employees are not bosses of residents but merely servants who must satisfy the expectation of the electorate.
- Councillors should be accommodative of divergent interests groups and must guard against corruption and personalising council business.
- Party supporters of the councillors’ choices should not be given special treatment in council’s casual jobs.
- The HRT is concerned with the involvement of councillors in the recruitment of labour force, perpetuating the culture of patronage entrenched during the past under a one-party system. Every ratepayer should have an equal chance of working for the City of Harare without partisan bias, through a system of advertising at District Offices about any arising vacancies.
ZESA Issues: Mr Fullard Gwasira (Communications and Head of Public Relations)
- Power stations around the country were built between 1944- 1957 targeting a population of less than one million people.
- ZESA tolerates no corruption but aware that some of their employees connive with members of the community to demand money from residents in areas where power outages have occurred.
- The national power utility has lost qualified personnel due to the economic hardships in the country.
- The population has drastically increased yet there is no corresponding upgrading of ZESA power generation capacity, leading to frequent load shedding.
- Vandalism has significantly contributed to the power outages across the country. There is need to educate citizens around issues of securing their power infrastructure.
- ZESA now improving on billing. They had always relied on estimate readings which led to astronomical bills. Balance brought forward on bills indicated the amount owing from the previous months.
- ZESA will work with the residents across Harare to provide all necessary information whenever they are invited. This partnership should be strengthened.
Residents’ Feedback:
- Their elected councillors have all purchased vehicles, yet their allowances were around US$150
- Councillors are engaged in corrupt activities.
- There is no refuse collection yet residents are paying monthly rates for once a week refuse collection.
- Residents want title to their houses.
- Investigations must be carried out to establish how the councillors in Highfield and senior council employees have conducted their business, with regards repossession of council houses where some tenants are living. This affects mostly residents in Highfield’s Geneva.
- There is need to know what the City of Harare is doing.
- A resident had her house ownership changed to another person without her knowledge Need more meetings to share information and understand residents’ rights.
- Councillor need to be genuinely concerned with the welfare of residents and not to look after their own political and personal interests.
- It was apparent that the councillors in Highfield failed to convene budget consultative meetings before the councillors went on to vote together with other councillors on 30 November 2009 to adopt the 2010 City Budget.
NB: If you need further information about the Highfield issues, please contact Eddington Mugova, the Secretary of Highfield or Aleck Rusere, the Chairperson on 0733 371 474 and 0912 971 384 respectively.
Ends//
VENUE: CJ COMMUNITY HALL
IN ATTENDANCE:
- Mabvuku residents’ Trust Leadership
- Harare East residents’ Trust leadership
- Warren Park Residents’ Leadership
- Mbare Residents’ leadership
- Glen Norah B’ Residents Leadership
- Kuwadzana Residents Leadership
- Mabelreign Residents’ Leadership
- Board of Trustees Chairperson- Emilia Chakatsva
- Precious Shumba, HRT Coordinator
- Fullard Gwasira, ZESA Holdings
- Shepherd Mandizvidza, ZESA Holdings
- Highfield Legal Centre
Highfield- AN attempt by a Councillor here to split the nearly 400 residents’ along partisan lines flopped when residents vehemently resisted and demanded that the councillor should account for his alleged involvement in the displacement of residents from their residential places and his alleged failure to represent their interests in council.
Ward 25 Councillor, Silas Machetu attempted to ride on the historical polarisation between parties in the Inclusive Government, based on the presence of residents in the audience he suspected of being his political opponents.
Residents wanted to know the council’s policy on houses belonging to the council, and asked why council officials and councillors were at the forefront of trying to replace the sitting tenants without due regard to justice. Serious allegations of complicity in the repossessions of council houses were levelled against the councillors, in particular Councillors Maxwell Katsande (Ward 26) and Machetu. Katsande left in a huff after failing to stomach the criticism. Ward 24 Councillor Job Mbadzi was also in attendance and promised to cooperate with residents.
The Harare Residents’ Trust (HRT) specifically invited the councillors to provide them with an opportunity to update residents on the programmes of the City of Harare and also to respond to issues of concern affecting their constituents. However, following brief speeches by the HRT Chairperson, Emilia Chakatsva and the Coordinator Precious Shumba, Councillor Machetu misread the situation. Instead of providing information to residents, he went on the defensive, clouding his focus and thinking with his emotions, making partisan statements.
Residents immediately reacted by booing him and asking him to explain his role in the raised matters. Unable to handle the sudden demand for personal accountability, Councillor Machetu walked out, making all kinds of allegations, ranging from being his political opponents, fools and to being ignorant people. Outside, angry residents berated him for being childish, disrespectful, and incompetent. The Highfield Residents’ Trust leadership attempted to control him but he left only to return 20 minutes later, calmer. He was then given a second chance and he promised to work with residents and cooperate on their issues.
HRT Issues: By Mrs Emilia Chakatsva (Board Chairperson) and Precious Shumba (Coordinator)
- Women constitute 52 percent of the total population but were inadequately represented in the City of Harare, where only five of the 46 elected councillors are women.
- The residents and service providers should engage and find best alternatives to improve the lives of residents. This is in line with the HRT vision of engaging all stakeholders in the development of the City.
- Elected representatives and council employees are not bosses of residents but merely servants who must satisfy the expectation of the electorate.
- Councillors should be accommodative of divergent interests groups and must guard against corruption and personalising council business.
- Party supporters of the councillors’ choices should not be given special treatment in council’s casual jobs.
- The HRT is concerned with the involvement of councillors in the recruitment of labour force, perpetuating the culture of patronage entrenched during the past under a one-party system. Every ratepayer should have an equal chance of working for the City of Harare without partisan bias, through a system of advertising at District Offices about any arising vacancies.
ZESA Issues: Mr Fullard Gwasira (Communications and Head of Public Relations)
- Power stations around the country were built between 1944- 1957 targeting a population of less than one million people.
- ZESA tolerates no corruption but aware that some of their employees connive with members of the community to demand money from residents in areas where power outages have occurred.
- The national power utility has lost qualified personnel due to the economic hardships in the country.
- The population has drastically increased yet there is no corresponding upgrading of ZESA power generation capacity, leading to frequent load shedding.
- Vandalism has significantly contributed to the power outages across the country. There is need to educate citizens around issues of securing their power infrastructure.
- ZESA now improving on billing. They had always relied on estimate readings which led to astronomical bills. Balance brought forward on bills indicated the amount owing from the previous months.
- ZESA will work with the residents across Harare to provide all necessary information whenever they are invited. This partnership should be strengthened.
Residents’ Feedback:
- Their elected councillors have all purchased vehicles, yet their allowances were around US$150
- Councillors are engaged in corrupt activities.
- There is no refuse collection yet residents are paying monthly rates for once a week refuse collection.
- Residents want title to their houses.
- Investigations must be carried out to establish how the councillors in Highfield and senior council employees have conducted their business, with regards repossession of council houses where some tenants are living. This affects mostly residents in Highfield’s Geneva.
- There is need to know what the City of Harare is doing.
- A resident had her house ownership changed to another person without her knowledge Need more meetings to share information and understand residents’ rights.
- Councillor need to be genuinely concerned with the welfare of residents and not to look after their own political and personal interests.
- It was apparent that the councillors in Highfield failed to convene budget consultative meetings before the councillors went on to vote together with other councillors on 30 November 2009 to adopt the 2010 City Budget.
NB: If you need further information about the Highfield issues, please contact Eddington Mugova, the Secretary of Highfield or Aleck Rusere, the Chairperson on 0733 371 474 and 0912 971 384 respectively.
Ends//
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Civil servants in Zimbabwe demand $630 as minimum monthly salary
By Kingsley Kaswende in Harare, Zimbabwe
CIVIL servants in Zimbabwe yesterday began a potentially crippling strike until the inclusive government pays them a minimum salary of US $630 per month.
Teachers, doctors, nurses and other civil servants told the fragile unity government at a rally on Friday afternoon that they would down tools and would stay away from work indefinitely beginning yesterday.
However, the government had offered them a minimum salary of US$137 and a top-up proposal of US$248 backdated to January, which led to the breakdown of the negotiations with the unions.
Public service minister Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro said at the weekend that last-minute talks with labour unions had failed to stave off the strike.
He said the government's new offer had been rejected by workers because it was "insufficient".
"The new offer has been unveiled and I am informed by officers from my ministry that the staff associations said it is not sufficient. Consultations are still going on and when we finish, we will call for another meeting," he said.
Prof Mukonoweshuro had told unions that the extra allocation of US$4 million for all civil servants that he had offered last Tuesday was still on the table.
He said the money would be used to give state employees US$8 and US$7 as housing and transport allowances respectively.
House rentals in high density suburbs average US $80 while a return trip into town costs US$2 per day.
A check around some schools, hospitals and government ministries yesterday morning found workers gathered outside their work premises, chatting.
Addressing a rally that brought together unions representing different arms of the civil service in Harare, Zimbabwe Teachers' Association president Tendai Chikowore said the unions had given the government sufficient time to address their grievances.
“The issue of remuneration has been neglected by the employer for many years. Government has been taking us for granted and now we are saying enough is enough,” she said.
Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said the workers had been patient long enough, adding that they had decided to unite against their employer.
"We have been neglected for so long and we have become a soft target for alternative saving options in government spending. Time has come for us to unite against our employer," Majongwe said.
Civil servants said the government spent more on foreign travels than on the welfare of the workers.
Last year, the government spent US $20 million on overseas trips, a far cry from the US $4 million it offered civil servants.
Currently, civil servants earn between US$100 and US $500.
CIVIL servants in Zimbabwe yesterday began a potentially crippling strike until the inclusive government pays them a minimum salary of US $630 per month.
Teachers, doctors, nurses and other civil servants told the fragile unity government at a rally on Friday afternoon that they would down tools and would stay away from work indefinitely beginning yesterday.
However, the government had offered them a minimum salary of US$137 and a top-up proposal of US$248 backdated to January, which led to the breakdown of the negotiations with the unions.
Public service minister Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro said at the weekend that last-minute talks with labour unions had failed to stave off the strike.
He said the government's new offer had been rejected by workers because it was "insufficient".
"The new offer has been unveiled and I am informed by officers from my ministry that the staff associations said it is not sufficient. Consultations are still going on and when we finish, we will call for another meeting," he said.
Prof Mukonoweshuro had told unions that the extra allocation of US$4 million for all civil servants that he had offered last Tuesday was still on the table.
He said the money would be used to give state employees US$8 and US$7 as housing and transport allowances respectively.
House rentals in high density suburbs average US $80 while a return trip into town costs US$2 per day.
A check around some schools, hospitals and government ministries yesterday morning found workers gathered outside their work premises, chatting.
Addressing a rally that brought together unions representing different arms of the civil service in Harare, Zimbabwe Teachers' Association president Tendai Chikowore said the unions had given the government sufficient time to address their grievances.
“The issue of remuneration has been neglected by the employer for many years. Government has been taking us for granted and now we are saying enough is enough,” she said.
Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Raymond Majongwe said the workers had been patient long enough, adding that they had decided to unite against their employer.
"We have been neglected for so long and we have become a soft target for alternative saving options in government spending. Time has come for us to unite against our employer," Majongwe said.
Civil servants said the government spent more on foreign travels than on the welfare of the workers.
Last year, the government spent US $20 million on overseas trips, a far cry from the US $4 million it offered civil servants.
Currently, civil servants earn between US$100 and US $500.
Harare Residents' Update- Mbare
Residents’ Updates:
Situational Update: This update has been made necessary by resources provided to the Harare Residents’ Trust (HRT) by the Non-State Actors Support Forum (NSAF). To receive updates, write Subscribe in the subject line and to unsubscribe write Unsubscribe in the subject line to hretrust@yahoo.com/ hretrust79@gmail.com
09 FEBRUARY 2010:
MBARE RESIDENTS QUIZ COUNCILLOR OVER STEEP RATES AND SERVICE DELIVERY
Mbare- RESIDENTS here have drawn up a list of more than fifty questions aimed at the elected councillors, the District Officer and Town House officials over what they termed ‘unjustified rates and collapse in service delivery’ by the Harare City Council. The residents urged Councillor Mugove Chingombe of Ward 12 to be actively involved with the community that elected him if he wanted to be relevant.
Resident after resident posed questions around the high rates and rentals, the inconsistent water billing, alleged partisanship of councillors, corruption by city officials, and the unaccountability of councillors and insecurity of residents in their houses. Councillor Chingombe managed to answer some of the questions but could not provide satisfactory responses to other pertinent issues raised by residents of Ward 3, 4, and 11.
This happened at Stodart Gym Hall on Saturday 6 February 2010 when around 250 residents gathered for a community meeting to discuss the state of service delivery in Mbare, the performance of elected councillors, rates and rentals by the City of Harare, and other issues affecting the residents. They drew up a list of questions they gave to the residents’ leadership so that councillors and city officials provide clear and satisfactory answers at the next meeting.
Eunice Wakatama (0733 252 622), the Chairperson of the Mbare Residents’ Trust (MRT) said it was important for residents to regularly meet, be informed and discuss their issues so that service providers and elected representatives are constantly held accountable. She said councillors should provide regular feedback on how they were representing residents in council business. “A councillor who fails to work with the citizenry is not worth to be our representative,” she said. “We must unite as residents and share information about how our council is operating.”
Thabani Matesi (0733 603 464), a member of the MRT Mobilisation Committee reported on the MRT workshop, facilitated by the Zimbabwe Association of Crime and Rehabilitation of Offenders (ZACRO) at Mazvikadei Lodge a fortnight ago. In his report back to the residents, Matesi said Mbare was viewed as a crime haven and the residents had the power to change this perception through vigorous crime prevention measures.
“It was clear during the workshop that residents are opposed to the corruption by Neighbourhood Watch Committee members,” he said. “Residents want to be at the forefront of selecting their own voluntary police force, trained by the ZRP. It is now up to us as a community to cooperate with police and other stakeholders in the fight against police corruption, and other criminal vices.”
Chairperson of Mabvuku Residents’ Trust Andrew Mutambu said residents needed to unite, and speak with one voice, using their enormous power over service providers and elected representatives. Treasurer of Highfield Residents’ Trust Kunasa Masakura said in Highfield they had managed to expose council corruption through working with the community and the police.
HRT Coordinator Precious Shumba said the purpose of a residents’ body is to educate, inform and build the capacity of the citizenry to make informed decisions, facilitate engagement of all stakeholders in the interest of citizens. Elected representatives and service providers have to be accountable and should be transparent in the utilisation of public resources, he said.
Situational Update: This update has been made necessary by resources provided to the Harare Residents’ Trust (HRT) by the Non-State Actors Support Forum (NSAF). To receive updates, write Subscribe in the subject line and to unsubscribe write Unsubscribe in the subject line to hretrust@yahoo.com/ hretrust79@gmail.com
09 FEBRUARY 2010:
MBARE RESIDENTS QUIZ COUNCILLOR OVER STEEP RATES AND SERVICE DELIVERY
Mbare- RESIDENTS here have drawn up a list of more than fifty questions aimed at the elected councillors, the District Officer and Town House officials over what they termed ‘unjustified rates and collapse in service delivery’ by the Harare City Council. The residents urged Councillor Mugove Chingombe of Ward 12 to be actively involved with the community that elected him if he wanted to be relevant.
Resident after resident posed questions around the high rates and rentals, the inconsistent water billing, alleged partisanship of councillors, corruption by city officials, and the unaccountability of councillors and insecurity of residents in their houses. Councillor Chingombe managed to answer some of the questions but could not provide satisfactory responses to other pertinent issues raised by residents of Ward 3, 4, and 11.
This happened at Stodart Gym Hall on Saturday 6 February 2010 when around 250 residents gathered for a community meeting to discuss the state of service delivery in Mbare, the performance of elected councillors, rates and rentals by the City of Harare, and other issues affecting the residents. They drew up a list of questions they gave to the residents’ leadership so that councillors and city officials provide clear and satisfactory answers at the next meeting.
Eunice Wakatama (0733 252 622), the Chairperson of the Mbare Residents’ Trust (MRT) said it was important for residents to regularly meet, be informed and discuss their issues so that service providers and elected representatives are constantly held accountable. She said councillors should provide regular feedback on how they were representing residents in council business. “A councillor who fails to work with the citizenry is not worth to be our representative,” she said. “We must unite as residents and share information about how our council is operating.”
Thabani Matesi (0733 603 464), a member of the MRT Mobilisation Committee reported on the MRT workshop, facilitated by the Zimbabwe Association of Crime and Rehabilitation of Offenders (ZACRO) at Mazvikadei Lodge a fortnight ago. In his report back to the residents, Matesi said Mbare was viewed as a crime haven and the residents had the power to change this perception through vigorous crime prevention measures.
“It was clear during the workshop that residents are opposed to the corruption by Neighbourhood Watch Committee members,” he said. “Residents want to be at the forefront of selecting their own voluntary police force, trained by the ZRP. It is now up to us as a community to cooperate with police and other stakeholders in the fight against police corruption, and other criminal vices.”
Chairperson of Mabvuku Residents’ Trust Andrew Mutambu said residents needed to unite, and speak with one voice, using their enormous power over service providers and elected representatives. Treasurer of Highfield Residents’ Trust Kunasa Masakura said in Highfield they had managed to expose council corruption through working with the community and the police.
HRT Coordinator Precious Shumba said the purpose of a residents’ body is to educate, inform and build the capacity of the citizenry to make informed decisions, facilitate engagement of all stakeholders in the interest of citizens. Elected representatives and service providers have to be accountable and should be transparent in the utilisation of public resources, he said.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Two decades after Mandela's release, South Africa struggles
Twenty years after Nelson Mandela was freed from prison, South Africa is a vibrant democracy but the millions still living in poverty are now looking for leadership that can tackle its economic problems.
World
Mandela's release on February 11, 1990, after 27 years in apartheid-era jails, set in motion the country's transformation to democracy which culminated in historic all-race elections in 1994 and his inauguration as the country's first black leader.
Some critics say Mandela's legacy has been blighted by his successor Thabo Mbeki's sacking as president by the ruling ANC and the latest sexual scandal involving current President Jacob Zuma which has damaged the party's image.
South Africa's change to democracy has been heralded as a miracle. Mandela's reconciliation drive won over hardline white conservatives, previously segregated communities are integrated and most blacks and whites now treat each other with respect.
But two decades on, many black South Africans still live in grinding poverty in squalid shantytowns, official unemployment is just under 25 percent and analysts say actual joblessness is much higher. "The challenges are identical. If there are three categories of things, it will be unemployment, inequality with a racial overlay and poverty. The changes between 1990 and 2010 are not profound," said independent political analyst Nic Borain.
Crime is rife and South Africa has one of the world's highest rates of violent crime. The country also has to deal with one of the heaviest global HIV/AIDS caseloads.
RICH POOR GAP
Income inequality between different race groups has increased from 1995 and the World Bank describes South Africa as a country with "extreme differences in incomes and wealth."
At least 34 percent of South Africa's estimated 50 million people live on less than two dollars per day, according to the World Bank.
The economy under the African National Congress, which has been ruling since the end of apartheid in 1994, saw its longest spurt of growth on record until the fallout from the global financial crisis pushed it into recession at the start of 2009.
Although Africa's biggest economy emerged from recession in the third quarter of 2009, analysts said its growth prospects lagged other emerging market peers -- a situation which can only be changed through significant restructuring to address infrastructure and labor market constraints.
Two decades after Mandela's release, South Africa needed to put in place real change to address economic structural problems and the low potential growth rate, said Peter Attard Montalto, emerging markets economist at Nomura International.
"There is currently no one to lead South Africa to this consensus. We need to hunt for the next Mandela, not the nation builder, the economic revolutionary," Attard Montalto added.
Despite the obvious problems facing South Africa, much has changed since Mandela was released.
A strong black middle-class has emerged, a whole generation of schoolchildren born after 1994 -- known as the "born frees" -- have grown up in an multi-racial society and basic services like water and electricity have been extended to millions.
"The only black people you interacted with (prior to 1990) as a normal kind of person were servants and deeply poverty-stricken people. That is no longer the case and there is a general deracialism of wealth at least," political analyst Borain said.
(Editing by Giles Elgood)
World
Mandela's release on February 11, 1990, after 27 years in apartheid-era jails, set in motion the country's transformation to democracy which culminated in historic all-race elections in 1994 and his inauguration as the country's first black leader.
Some critics say Mandela's legacy has been blighted by his successor Thabo Mbeki's sacking as president by the ruling ANC and the latest sexual scandal involving current President Jacob Zuma which has damaged the party's image.
South Africa's change to democracy has been heralded as a miracle. Mandela's reconciliation drive won over hardline white conservatives, previously segregated communities are integrated and most blacks and whites now treat each other with respect.
But two decades on, many black South Africans still live in grinding poverty in squalid shantytowns, official unemployment is just under 25 percent and analysts say actual joblessness is much higher. "The challenges are identical. If there are three categories of things, it will be unemployment, inequality with a racial overlay and poverty. The changes between 1990 and 2010 are not profound," said independent political analyst Nic Borain.
Crime is rife and South Africa has one of the world's highest rates of violent crime. The country also has to deal with one of the heaviest global HIV/AIDS caseloads.
RICH POOR GAP
Income inequality between different race groups has increased from 1995 and the World Bank describes South Africa as a country with "extreme differences in incomes and wealth."
At least 34 percent of South Africa's estimated 50 million people live on less than two dollars per day, according to the World Bank.
The economy under the African National Congress, which has been ruling since the end of apartheid in 1994, saw its longest spurt of growth on record until the fallout from the global financial crisis pushed it into recession at the start of 2009.
Although Africa's biggest economy emerged from recession in the third quarter of 2009, analysts said its growth prospects lagged other emerging market peers -- a situation which can only be changed through significant restructuring to address infrastructure and labor market constraints.
Two decades after Mandela's release, South Africa needed to put in place real change to address economic structural problems and the low potential growth rate, said Peter Attard Montalto, emerging markets economist at Nomura International.
"There is currently no one to lead South Africa to this consensus. We need to hunt for the next Mandela, not the nation builder, the economic revolutionary," Attard Montalto added.
Despite the obvious problems facing South Africa, much has changed since Mandela was released.
A strong black middle-class has emerged, a whole generation of schoolchildren born after 1994 -- known as the "born frees" -- have grown up in an multi-racial society and basic services like water and electricity have been extended to millions.
"The only black people you interacted with (prior to 1990) as a normal kind of person were servants and deeply poverty-stricken people. That is no longer the case and there is a general deracialism of wealth at least," political analyst Borain said.
(Editing by Giles Elgood)
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