(HERALD) Harare residents form association

Harare residents form association
Herald Reporter

A group of progressive Harare residents has formed a new residents’ association.

Known as the Harare Residents’ Trust, the association’s aim is to have positive engagement with service providers who include Harare City Council, Zesa Holdings, Zinwa, the police and TelOne, among others. Some of the Trust’s members left the Combined Harare Residents Association following sharp differences over management style, which they believe borders on arrogance and opposition to everything initiated by the Government or its agencies.

Trust co-ordinator Mr Precious Shumba yesterday said the Trust was formed in February and has since set up branches in Glen View, Glen Norah, Budiriro, Sunningdale, Newlands, Highlands, Mbare, Mufakose, Kuwadzana-Crowbo-rough and Kuwadzana Extension.

Harare has for a very long time operated with one residents’ association, much to the disadvantage of residents and ratepayers who relied on an association that delved much into politics rather than service delivery.

"In those years, the value that accrued to residents deteriorated. It is in that context with other concerned residents of Harare who believe that the primary responsibility is to represent the residents in the advocacy of quality municipal service that the Trust was formed," he said.

He said quality service provision for Harare residents can only be achieved through positive engagement and not through the politics of attrition.

Mr Shumba said each residential suburb or district shall have its own representative body with an independent constitution from that of the mother body.

"We want to have localised solutions to local problems.

"We want, for example, the people of Mbare to be able to engage Zesa on their own.

"TelOne network problems in Budiriro should not be made a Harare issue," he said.