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Ian Makone, representing the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has been elected as the new Mayor of Harare, with Kudzai Kadzombe as his deputy. Makone, from Ward 18, replaces Jacob Mafume of Ward 17.
Kadzombe’s appointment is historic, as she is the first female Deputy Mayor in the city’s history.
The CCC holds a significant majority in the council, with 42 out of 45 seats, including 10 women’s quota councillors. Zanu PF holds the remaining four seats.
Makone received 46 votes in the election, defeating Zanu PF’s challenger, Temany Utete, who secured seven votes. Kadzombe won with 47 votes, surpassing Zanu PF’s Susan Chuma, who received seven votes. Party leader Nelson Chamisa instructed CCC councillors to vote for Makone and Kadzombe, similar to the instructions given in Bulawayo, where David Coltart will become mayor and Dumisani Nkomo will serve as deputy mayor. He said:
<blockquote>
Our single-minded commitment is the provision of service to all residents of Harare regardless of political affiliation. We are accountable to the residents of Harare, and we shall be a listening council.
Our single-minded commitment is the provision of service to all residents of Harare regardless of political affiliation. We are accountable to the residents of Harare, and we shall be a listening council.
I urge anyone who is intending on engaging in corrupt practices that there will be no sacred cows.  I also believe well remunerated staff is an effective staff.
</blockquote>
Tafadzwa Muguti, the Harare secretary for provincial affairs, assured the newly elected Harare council that the central government would support them in addressing challenges faced by the city, including water supply, garbage, and sewer issues. Muguti said
<blockquote>
You are now part of government. There is no them, there is no us; we are one Zimbabweans.
</blockquote>
Some individuals criticised the outgoing Mayor, Jacob Mafume, for not addressing the water crisis in Harare. They pointed out that despite Mafume winning in the driest Ward, Hatcliffe, he did not take sufficient action to ensure access to running water. They called for proactive measures to improve water supply and establish effective communication structures.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

Pindula News

CCC's Ian Makone And Kudzai Kadzombe Elected As New Harare Mayor And Deputy

Harare and Mutare city councils are expected to elect new mayors and deputy mayors today following the recent harmonised elections. The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) dominates both boards, maintaining its hold over urban areas nationwide.
In Harare, 40 out of 59 sworn-in councillors are from the CCC, while ZANU PF has five councillors. Additionally, 14 councillors were co-opted through the women’s quota system, with 10 from the CCC and four from ZANU PF. In Mutare, all 19 seats were won by the CCC, including six under the women’s quota system.
CCC president Nelson Chamisa has reportedly endorsed Ian Makone as the mayor of Harare, with most councillors at Town House endorsing him as well. In Mutare, Simon Chabuka is expected to continue as mayor for continuity and transparency.
Residents and Ratepayers’ organisations have expressed the need for strong and effective leadership at the councils, emphasizing the importance of delivering quality services and promoting community unity. United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust official Edson Dube told NewsDay that they needed firm leaders at the council. Dube said:
<blockquote>
We need firm people, we want leadership which can take council to the next level. We have noticed a lot of improvement in the last few years at Mutare City Council and they have been working very hard. Appointment of the mayor ship should be purely on merit. We want leadership which can deliver on service delivery.
</blockquote>
Harare Residents Trust (HRT) director Precious Shumba said the new mayor should be a unifier. Shumba said:
<blockquote>
Residents want service delivery to be top-notch across the board. The mayor is the chief policymaker of a city or municipality. Given that responsibility, a mayor is supposed to be a unifier, inclusive and experienced to handle public affairs.
</blockquote>
<h3>Poor Service Delivery </h3>
Opposition party councillors have faced criticism from ZANU PF, accusing them of mismanaging urban councils. However, the opposition has responded by stating that the central government’s lack of funding for devolution has hindered their development programs. According to the Constitution of Zimbabwe, local government authorities are entitled to receive 5 percent of the nation’s total budget. This allocation is intended to support their operations and promote local development. They are also allowed to raise revenue through property taxes, service charges, business licenses, local sales taxes, grants and transfers, fines and penalties, leasing public assets, local tourism taxes, and taxes on lotteries and gambling activities. 
The election of new Mayors and their deputies presents an opportunity for local authorities to address the challenges faced by their respective cities and work towards improving service delivery and overall governance.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

Harare And Mutare Councils To Elect New Mayors And Deputies Today

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<div dir="auto">
Harare has a total of 59 councillors who were elected through a proper process. Among these councillors, 5 belong to the ZANU PF party, while the CCC party has 40 councillors representing them.
Out of the total number of councillors, 14 of them were appointed through the women quota system. Among these 14, 4 councillors are from the ZANU PF party, and the remaining 10 councillors are from the CCC party.
Here is the list of duly elected Harare councillors as of 23rd August 2023, along with the respective wards they represent:
</div>
</div>
<div dir="auto">1. Temany Utete (M) 
2. Blessing Muroyiwa (M) 
3. Simbarashe Chanachimwe (M) 
4. Maburutse Boniface Kundai (M) 
5. Samuel Gwenzi (M) 
6. Zodiac Duri (M) 
7. Rosemary Muronda (F) 
8. Knowledge Mutapaire (M) 
9. Prince Mutebuka (M) 
10. Clayd Mashozhera (M) 
11. Felix Chabuda (M) 
12. Simon Manzanga (M) 
13. Chipo Betty Suka (F) 
14. Costa Mande (M) 
15. Tafadzwa Machirori (M) 
16. Denford Ngadziore (M) 
17. Happymore Gotora (M) 
18. Ian Muteto Makone (M) 
19. Jacob Mafume (M)</div>
<div dir="auto">20. Mercy Kasvosve (F) 
21. Alexio Nyakudya (M) 
22. Clemence Maimba (M) 
23. Stanley Manasi Manyenga (M) 
24. Lovemore Makuwerere (M) 
25. Jane Bhingari (F) 
26. Maxwell Dutuma (M) 
27. Womberaiishe Tirivangani Nhende (M) 
28. George Mujajati (M) 
29. Blessing Duma (M) 
30. Charles Chidagu (M) 
31. Joshua Pedzisai (M) 
32. Gaudencia Marera (F) 
33. Emmanuel Dzinomurumbi (M) 
34. Simon Mapanzure (M) 
35. Ever Joyce Kamusikiri (F)</div>
<div dir="auto">36. Lovejoy Chitengu (M) 
37. Richard Pamire (M) 
38. Rayrnond Mubaiwa Jakopo (M) 
39. Stephen Dhliwayo (M) 
40. Knowledge Bote (M) 
41. Kudzai Kadzombe (M) 
42. Elvis Ruzani (M) 
43. Austin Munamba (M) 
44. Adonia Shoko (M) 
45. Jubilation C Shoko (F)</div>
<div dir="auto"> </div>
<div dir="auto">Women Quota</div>
<div dir="auto">– Cecilia Revai Chimbiri (F) 
– Takudzwa Dzumbunu (F) 
– Moud Chinyerere (F) 
– Wendy Chengetai Muzuva (F) 
– Tiriboyi Sabina (F) 
– Mirriam Chirimuta (F) 
– Florence Cheza (F) 
– Chido Hamauswa (F) 
– Fadzai Mutasa (F) 
– Fadzai Matimba (F) 
– Charlotte Sabina Mukarati (F) 
– Teresa Taguma Tomasi (F) 
– Susan Chuma (F) 
– Winnet Nzou (F)</div>
<h3 dir="auto"><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

FULL LIST: Harare's 59 Councillors And Their Wards

People in Harare are complaining about the very high fees for shop licenses, which businesses find too expensive. When applying for a license, there is a US$72 fee for inspection. If the inspection goes well, businesses then pay the actual license fee which varies depending on the desired category. On average, it amounts to approximately US$1000.
Simba Nyamadzawo, the founder of Infinite Inspiration Group (IIG), a Harare-based Leadership &amp; Motivation Company, believes that the fees are excessive, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with limited financial resources. He wrote an open letter to Harare Mayor advocate Jacob Mafume:
<blockquote>
Your worship @JMafume the shop license fees for @cohsunshinecity are exorbitant. What’s your take on that and can they be reviewed downwards. Alternatively could you break them down to allow quarterly payments. Tinzweiwo Mambo.
</blockquote>
Many people agreed with his views and called on the Harare City Council (HCC) to reconsider the excessively high license fees, which they believe are severely harming businesses.
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Mayor Jacob Mafume responded to the appeal stating that the local government authority will take the suggestions into account during the next budgetary planning. He said:
<blockquote>
We are doing the budget for this year soon after the elections. We had hoped to dollarise so that they can be set at 2010 levels which people were comfortable with but that was shot down.We will look into quarterly payments as you suggest .
</blockquote>
The Mayor has made previous promises to initiate a review. Specifically, in March of this year, the Mayor stated that the city officials should reevaluate the fees associated with licensing. He said:
<blockquote>
A lot of people are complaining. If you move from a premise, you can’t move with your licence. You have to pay again. Even if you do renovations. We also need to look at our licensing payment methods. We might need to introduce a quarterly payment system so that people can lessen the burden of paying and we might need a reduction in the quantum. I got a call from the Hairdressers Association. They wrote a letter complaining about the fees which means it’s a serious issue. Something went wrong when we were preparing the budget because almost everything went up.
</blockquote>
Mafume further stated that they had directed the finance committee of the council to thoroughly examine and revise the license fees. This decision was prompted by grievances expressed by business operators in Harare following a significant increase of over 1,000% in shop license fees. Harare had raised the fees for non-factory shops and food purveyors to over ZWL$1 million, a substantial jump from the previous average of ZWL$200,000.
<div class="in_article">
Due to the fee increase, numerous business owners have expressed their intention to potentially shut down their shops and relocate from the central business district. Noted a business operator, Mr Chris Manguni:
<blockquote>
We are on the verge of closing shop because we are failing to pay the shop license fees. Our plea is that the responsible authorities review downwards the operator’s fees or else we are left with no option, but to close our shops which are sustaining a lot of families. 
</blockquote>
In January this year, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/ninety-two-council-budgets-approved/">approved ninety-two budgets</a> for 2023 presented by local authorities, with four being rejected for various reasons.
A number of small to medium enterprise businesspersons <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/businesses-in-harare-challenge-licence-fee-hike/">signed a petition</a> against the increase saying they were not consulted on issues of city budgets. One businesswoman operating hair salons in the capital said her licence fee went up from US$400 to US$640.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>
</div>

Outcry Over Very High Shop License Fees In Harare

An official from Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, CCC, has said they have not abandoned jailed member Job Sikhala but were trying to avoid making “the situation worse”.
A former MDC Alliance principal, Jacob Ngarivhume, who is the leader of Transform Zimbabwe, was also arrested and sentenced to four years imprisonment.
Ngarivhume was in April 2023 found guilty of inciting public violence; using his X (Twitter) handle to call for the 31st July 2020 nationwide anti-government protests.
Speaking in an interview with Alpha Media Holdings chairman Trevor Ncube on the platform In Conversation with Trevor, Harare mayor Jacob Mafume said CCC leaders were avoiding actions that would land them in trouble. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200015354/weve-not-abandoned-sikhala">NewsDay</a> quoted Mafume as saying:
<blockquote>
We want to avoid the acts of the oppressor becoming an indictment on you. The continued detention of Sikhala and Ngarivhume is not an indictment on us.
It is an indictment on those people that are detaining him and also an indictment on the Judiciary that allows itself to be in a position where it detains somebody on pre-trial incarceration for more than a year.
What we could do to make the situation worse is to go again on unplanned processes that might actually cloud the situation as to who is the problem here.
</blockquote>
Mafume, who has been in opposition politics for many years, said they now know how to deal with an oppressive system. He said:
<blockquote>
We have gathered a lot of experience now. We still have the same fire, but we now have the benefit or the wisdom of hindsight.
We know what is in the realm of the possible, what to push and also to measure and manage our excitement at any process that we are doing and also to avoid certain dangers not only to ourselves but also to our supporters.
The 2008 violence taught us a different whole new side to what we were facing and how to measure our tactics and what we need to do and how we do it going forward in many ways to avoid harming ourselves and causing harm to supporters who in most cases would be innocent.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

CCC Has Not Abandoned Sikhala - Mafume

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) prevented Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume from commissioning Rufaro Stadium this morning. Originally scheduled for Saturday, the event was subsequently rescheduled to Wednesday and then Thursday, only to be cancelled following orders from the police.
Journalists and council officials were instructed to leave the stadium, which is still undergoing renovations. Despite claiming that the stadium is 95% complete, Mayor Mafume received instructions from the Mbare Police not to proceed with the commissioning ceremony.
In response to media inquiries about the stadium’s status and the matter of maintaining law and order, the police released a statement redirecting all questions to the Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Province, Tafadzwa Muguti. The ZRP emphasizes that it follows the guidance of the Permanent Secretary, who holds responsibility for government and local authorities’ programs in the city. Read the statement:
<blockquote>
With regards to media queries on the status of Rufaro Stadium in Harare and the issue of maintenance of law and order, the ZRP reiterates that it stands guided by the Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Province as he is the one in charge of Government and local authorities programmes in the city.
</blockquote>
The incident occurs after President Emerson Mnangagwa told ZANU PF supporters at a campaign rally on Wednesday that the central government would renovate Rufaro Stadium, facilitating the return of the Dynamos football club to play their home games there.
More Pindula News

ZRP Blocks Harare Mayor From Commissioning Rufaro Stadium

Pictures of Rufaro Stadium have generated controversy on social media with critics suggesting that the Harare City Council (HCC) has made insufficient progress in renovating the facility. The local government authority initiated the renovation project approximately seven months ago but has encountered multiple delays, failing to meet several previously set deadlines. The stadium was <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2023/02/14/renovations-of-rufaro-stadium-back-on-track/">initially scheduled to reopen before the start of the season</a> in March but was delayed on several occasions. Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume disclosed that corruption within the council hindered progress. 
Rufaro Stadium was condemned multiple times due to lack of maintenance with local stadium inspectors, including members from PSL and ZIFA, making extensive recommendations for the stadium to meet CAF and FIFA standards. These include improving the playing surface, perimeter support structures, drainage systems, ablution facilities, dressing rooms, and facilities for the physically challenged. They also recommended installing bucket seats, direction signs, standard doping rooms, a medical facility, press rooms, television camera points, and modern electronic turnstiles.
<img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-261921 aligncenter" decoding="async" height="510" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" src="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/rufaro-2.jpg" srcset="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/rufaro-2.jpg 680w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/rufaro-2-300x225.jpg 300w" width="680"/>
In May, Mafume expressed satisfaction with the progress made on Rufaro Stadium, saying that they had conducted soil tests and installed new soil to improve the playing surface, which will have a pop-up irrigation system. The city fathers had also painted the seats and numbered them, allowing teams to sell season, half-season, and quarter-season tickets.
<img alt="" class="wp-image-261922 aligncenter" decoding="async" height="481" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 641px) 100vw, 641px" src="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/rufaro-1.png" srcset="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/rufaro-1.png 360w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/rufaro-1-300x225.png 300w" width="641"/>
He said the changing rooms had also been expanded, and each would have 15 to 18 showers, with individual lockers for players. Mafume added that a B-Arena will be constructed outside with the same turf as the main pitch, which will be used for practice sessions and will contain small-to-medium shops, creating a multi-purpose facility.
The VIP section now has samples of the bucket seats that were recommended.
<img alt="" class="wp-image-261920 aligncenter" decoding="async" height="421" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 561px) 100vw, 561px" src="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/rufaro-3.png" srcset="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/rufaro-3.png 360w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/rufaro-3-300x225.png 300w" width="561"/>
Harare City Council has come under fire for failing to meet the deadlines, particularly after rejecting to partner Sakunda Holdings owned by Kuda Tagwirei. The ruling ZANU PF commented on the latest pictures circulating on social media:
<blockquote>
Jacob Mafume chibaba. After 7 months, here is what he delivered at Rufaro stadium: Car park lines. Sample VIP bucket seats. CCC is against soccer development. They refused Cde Tagwirei’s offer for this rubbish. 
</blockquote>
The Harare City Council (HCC) faced criticism last year for terminating a lease agreement with Sakunda Holdings. It has come to light that Tagwirei had intended to enhance the stadium’s appearance as depicted in the design below.
<img alt="" class="wp-image-261919 aligncenter" decoding="async" height="448" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 797px) 100vw, 797px" src="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/rufaro-sakunda.jpeg" srcset="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/rufaro-sakunda.jpeg 1024w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/rufaro-sakunda-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/rufaro-sakunda-768x432.jpeg 768w" width="797"/>
 
Sakunda Holdings accused the Council of displaying a toxic attitude and lacking the necessary political will to execute the project, which led to their withdrawal from the partnership. During that period, Sakunda pledged to donate all project designs and plans to the Council for the benefit of the public interest.
<h2><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

PICTURES: Renovated Rufaro Stadium

Harare City Council has announced that it has withdrawn sponsorship from Harare City FC and dissolved the executive for misusing funds and personalising the club.
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume emphasised the council’s intolerance for such actions. He said:
<blockquote>
It is not fair and should not be continued. Council will not sponsor any dubious organizations or Football Clubs at the expanse of everyone. This has to stop.
</blockquote>
Mafume said Harare City FC chairperson Aloius Masepe and his colleagues breached by-laws by personalizing the club and Mayoral mansion. He suggested a review of the club’s funding model.
Councillor Ngadziore supported Mayor Mafume, calling for an audit of club funds. He also suggested a new board should be elected to replace the current one.
The council-owned side was relegated from the Premier Soccer League last season after exactly 10 years in top-flight football. The Sunshine Boys were relegated together with fellow council side Bulawayo City and prison sides Tenax and WhaWha.
Harare City Council gets money to sponsor Harare City Football Club from the city’s ratepayers and other revenue sources such as taxes, fees, and fines.
Harare City Council has over the years faced criticism over its failure to provide adequate public goods and services, including water supply, waste management, road maintenance, and other essential services. This has resulted in poor living conditions for residents, including water shortages, uncollected garbage, and potholed roads, among other issues.
The council blames the lack of resources for the ineffective execution of duties.
<h2><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Harare City FC Sponsorship Withdrawn; Executive Dissolved For Misuse Of Funds

Renovations at <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Rufaro_Stadium/">Rufaro Stadium</a> have gained momentum and are expected to be completed by next month following delays caused by corruption. 
Harare Mayor <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Jacob_Mafume">Jacob Mafume</a> and Premier Soccer League Chairman <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Farai_Jere/">Farai Jere</a> toured the facility to assess the progress and set new timelines.
The stadium was <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2023/02/14/renovations-of-rufaro-stadium-back-on-track/">initially scheduled to reopen before the start of the season</a> in March but was delayed until the end of April. However, Mafume disclosed that corruption within the council hindered progress. <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/rufaro-renovations-gather-momentum-corruption-had-stalled-progress/">The Herald</a> quotes the Mayor as saying:
<blockquote>
Old habits in procurement. People want to buy the most expensive things. Whenever a project like this is started they try to alert their relatives and their relatives start forming companies to make these things and you will be shocked by the prices. So we have cut that red tape. If you want irrigation equipment you know where to buy that, if you want cement you know there is Circle Cement and that cement and so forth.
It’s like there is a looting committee that was created at some place and that looting committee is very difficult to cut through because it’s agenda is to loot. So it is the behaviour of the people that has sort of delayed our finishing timelines. But we have pushed day and night and I am happy to see the progress and I am dead sure that by the end of this month that we will be sitting in this stadium cheering our teams to our hearts’ content.
</blockquote>
Rufaro Stadium has been condemned multiple times due to lack of maintenance, but there is renewed hope as the City of Harare has taken on the task of restoring it. The pitch has shown visible improvement, and the parking area, perimeter wall, and shopping complex are also being renovated.
The local stadium inspectors, including members from PSL and ZIFA, have made extensive recommendations for the stadium to meet CAF and FIFA standards. These include improving the playing surface, perimeter support structures, drainage systems, ablution facilities, dressing rooms, and facilities for the physically challenged. They also recommend installing bucket seats, direction signs, standard doping rooms, a medical facility, press rooms, television camera points, and modern electronic turnstiles.
Mafume expressed satisfaction with the progress made on Rufaro Stadium, saying that they have conducted soil tests and installed new soil to improve the playing surface, which will have a pop-up irrigation system. They have also painted the seats and numbered them, allowing teams to sell season, half-season, and quarter-season tickets.
The changing rooms have been expanded, and each will have 15 to 18 showers, with individual lockers for players. A B-Arena will be constructed outside with the same turf as the main pitch, which will be used for practice sessions and will contain small-to-medium shops, creating a multi-purpose facility. Samples of the bucket seats are expected to be delivered soon to begin the process of ordering them.
<h2><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Samples Of Bucket Seats Expected Soon As Renovations At Rufaro Stadium Gain Momentum

City of Harare mayor Jacob Mafume says it is not the mandate of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to inspect businesspeople’s operating licences.
This comes after police officers were filmed confronting a businesswoman in the central business district (CBD) purportedly asking to see her operating licence. Said Mafume:
<blockquote>
We have taken note of the video of police officers asking for business licences in the city centre and we are going to write to the Officer Commanding Harare asking him to explain.
Police have no role in inspecting business licences in the city. It’s the duty of municipal police.
We believe that this is a duplication of roles that will breed-rent-seeking behaviour.
</blockquote>
ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200010513/police-have-no-mandate-to-inspect-shop-licences-harare-mayor">NewsDay</a> that police have a constitutional mandate to enforce all the laws in the country, including municipal by-laws. He said:
<blockquote>
The Harare mayor knows what to do when he has a complaint. He should write to the Police Commissioner-General.
In terms of the country’s laws, ZRP has a constitutional mandate to enforce all the laws promulgated by Parliament.
We have the mandate to enforce laws such as Forestry Act, EMA Act and council by-laws in the country.
So there is nothing sinister about police inspecting if businesses are operating within the confines of the law.
</blockquote>
The enforcement of municipal by-laws is primarily the responsibility of local authorities.
However, the ZRP may be called upon to assist in enforcing municipal by-laws if necessary.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"ZRP Has No Mandate To Inspect Shop Licences"

Gogo Maina Mawoneyi Mafume, the mother of Harare Mayor <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Jacob_Mafume">Jacob Mafume</a>, has died.
Harare City Council (HCC) said Gogo Mafume died in the early morning of 17 March 2023 at <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Parirenyatwa_Hospital">Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals</a> after a long battle with heart disease.
The local government authority said mourners are gathered at number 1873 Mt Pleasant, Harare. Reads a statement by Harare City Council:
<blockquote>
Deputy Mayor Councillor Luckmore Mukunguma, Councillors, Acting Town Clerk Eng Phakamile Mabhena Moyo, Management and City of Harare staff would like to express their deepest condolences to Mayor Cllr Jacob Mafume, family and friends following the untimely death of Gogo Maina Mawoneyi Mafume (mother to Mayor Mafume).
Gogo Mafume passed on early morning of 17 March, 2023 at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals after a long battle with a heart disease.
Mourners are gathered at Number 1873 Mt Pleasant, Harare.
She will be laid to rest at Village Mbetu, Chief Charumbira in Masvingo.
May Her Soul Rest In Eternal Peace.
</blockquote>
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Harare Mayor Mafume's Mother Has Died

Harare Mayor, Councillor <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Jacob_Mafume">Jacob Mafume</a>, has reiterated that the Premier Soccer League match between Dynamos FC and CAPS United, dubbed the Harare Derby, will be played at <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Rufaro_Stadium">Rufaro Stadium</a> this season.
The 2023 football season kicks off this weekend and the derby will be in week seven of the 2023 season.
Mafume made the remarks during a recent tour of the ceremonial home of Zimbabwean Football which is undergoing renovations. He said:
<blockquote>
I’m certain that one of the biggest and important matches in the football calendar between Caps and Dynamos will be played in the stadium.
I have looked at the itinerary and I’m sure it will be played.
We have seen the pitch and the work being done, for the changing rooms we are going to have a shower for every player so that they don’t have to stand in a queue to shower.
We are going to make the changing rooms more airy and wider which would be comfortable for both the home and away team.
</blockquote>
He said the VIP stands, media area, among others and buckets seats will be changed stage by stage until the whole ground is covered.
Mafume added that automated irrigation will be placed so that the turf is continuously maintained. 
Football matches in the top division were last played at Rufaro Stadium in 2019 before the ZIFA First Instance Board red-flagged 45 000-seater Mbare facility in 2020 and declared it unfit to host premier football. 
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Mayor Mafume Says Harare Derby Will Be Played At Rufaro Stadium

Harare City Council has bowed down to pressure from motorists following an uproar over the US$132 fine the local authority was charging for failing to pay parking fees on time.
Last week, the council’s subsidiary, City Parking, deployed its marshals who were clamping all vehicles whose owners were delaying paying US$1 parking fees.
Motorists who delayed paying the US$1 parking fees were fined US$132 for their vehicles to be unclamped.
Addressing council officials on Monday, 13 March, Harare mayor Jacob Mafume said motorists who delay paying parking fees by two hours will be allowed to pay. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200008776/hcc-relents-on-parking-fines">NewsDay</a> quoted Mafume as saying:
<blockquote>
We have developed a protocol that a motorist first pays US$1. However, because of delays of two hours, the motorist will be allowed to pay for the arrears ticket.
Those motorists with large sums of arrears are the ones to be clamped for failure to pay the stipulated (fee).
We delayed the implementation of towing-away and storage charges. The ticket was US$229 for towing and storage on the same day.
If a vehicle is clamped, a person is given time to pay for the offence before clamping and towing charges can begin to operate.
Our fines are US$50, and clamping charges US$65, which sum up to US$132 after value-added tax.
We will delay the implementation of the clamping charges so that if you pay your fine within the stipulated period, then the charge for the clamping will not accrue, hence reducing the fine significantly.
We need to increase our payment system so that people can pay on the EcoCash platform and other service providers and also our WhatsApp chatbot.
</blockquote>
Mafume reminded Harare motorists that stepping on white lines, double parking and wrong parking, are traffic offences.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Harare City Council Adjusts Parking Fines

The Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, July Moyo has appointed a team to investigate operations of the City of Harare and its subsidiary company City Parking.
The Harare City Council gave City Parking marshals authority to clamp and fine traffic offenders in the Central Business District (CBD) and this has caused an uproar as the owners of clamped vehicles are being fined US$130 cash.
<ul>
<li>The issues that are being investigated are parking include:</li>
<li>The parking fees</li>
<li>The average daily collection levels</li>
<li>The shareholding structure between Council and City Parking</li>
<li>The role of the Municipal Traffic Police in Parking</li>
<li>The relationship, if any, between the ZRP Harare Traffic and City Parking</li>
</ul>
In a letter written to the spatial planning and development department, Moyo said:
<blockquote>
As provided for in section 313 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29: 15) and as read with ministry circulars regarding deployment of investigation teams, City of Harare will bear the costs of the investigation, which I expect you to complete within 10 (ten) working days, whereupon you shall compile a report of your findings for my consideration within five working days.
</blockquote>
Responding to concerns raised by motorists over exorbitant clamping fines on Twitter on Wednesday, Harare mayor Jacob Mafume said they will seek to strike a balance between the fines and what people can afford. <a href="https://twitter.com/JMafume/status/1633526761936805916">He said</a>:
<blockquote>
We have noted the concerns of the public on this issue. We will be calling a Press Conference tomorrow (today) together with city parking to announce the recommendations we have received from the public. We have to strike a balance between the fines and what people can afford.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Harare City Parking Under Probe Over "Exorbitant" Clamping Fees

Harare Mayor, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Jacob_Mafume">Jacob Mafume</a>, has launched Operation Chenesa Harare which will run for the next three weeks to clear all the illegal dumps that have accumulated throughout the city.
He said the majority of the necessary equipment has been purchased for Operation Chenesa Harare which was with effect from 28 February 2023.
Mayor Mafume said District Officers in each area will manage the operation.
He said the issue of waste management has become a topical issue in Harare and the local government authority is committed to dealing with it once and for all. He said:
<blockquote>
Everyone is aware that the issue of waste management model from the colonial era based on land fill, based on an ecosystem which necessitated the upliftment of waste of whatever kind without separating or recycling it, without dealing with it in any manner or form and dump it at a dumping site.
As you can see many areas, there have been landfills like the Golden Quarry and until recently we are now taking to Pomona without any management.
</blockquote>
Mayor Mafume said the argument with the central government on <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Pomona">Pomona</a> has also led to a number of illegal dumpsites.
He said the other cause of these illegal dumpsites is the emergency of un-regularised settlements where the council is not collecting refuse.
Mayor Mafume said the council is committed to introducing programmes that complement the effort of the central government that has issued a national cleaning day.
He added that the programme recognises the role of the community in terms of participation in clean-up and behavioural changes.
The Mayor said citizens and communities must be placed at the centre of this waste collection model to give people control over the environment and maintain its value.
Mayor Mafume said refuse shall be collected every fortnight in residential areas and every day in areas like Mbare.
<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Harare_City_Council">Harare City Council</a> previously attributed failure or negligence to collect garbage to the inadequacy of resources such as compactors and fuel.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pndula News</a></h2>

Mayor Mafume Has Launched Operation Chenesa Harare

Harare Mayor, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Jacob_Mafume">Jacob Mafume</a>, has said he is happy with the progress made in the rehabilitation of <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Rufaro_Stadium">Rufaro Stadium</a> assuring stakeholders that the pitch will be ready for matches by the end of March. 
Mafume also said:
<blockquote>
i). The contractors will come up with a waste management plan. 
ii). The casting wall surrounding the council flats will be redone. 
iii). There will be shops inside the casting wall. 
iv). Football is coming home by the end of March.  
v). He said is happy with the progress made.
</blockquote>
Watch the video below for more.
<div class="wp-video" style="width: 426px;">
<video class="wp-video-shortcode" controls="controls" height="234" id="video-252926-1" preload="metadata" width="426"><source src="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mafume-rufaro-stadium.mp4?_=1" type="video/mp4"/><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mafume-rufaro-stadium.mp4">https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mafume-rufaro-stadium.mp4</a></video></div>
The 45 000-seater Mbare facility, nicknamed by football fans as ‘The Ceremonial Home of Football’, is now a pale shadow of its former self and was declared not fit to host international as well as PSL matches.
The City Fathers started working on the pitch this February to spruce up the stadia which had become an eyesore due to years of neglect. 
According to a statement released by the Harare City Council recently, as part of the project, City Parking, a major source of revenue for the council, will carry out works outside the main stadium. 
The stadium’s outer wall was in terrible shape, and basic infrastructure maintenance has been an issue. The open space outside the ground was turned into a dumping site while part of the car park had been occupied by trucks and vendors. 
<h2><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Harare Mayor Happy With Rufaro Rehabilitation Project

The Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) chief executive officer has responded to claims by Harare mayor Jacob Mafume that the local authority has been failing to repair roads since it (ZINARA) took over. 
Earlier on Tuesday, Mafume was quoted as saying the local authority has no choice but to take ZINARA to court so that it can be deconstructed and vehicle licensing be brought back to the local authorities.
In response, the ZINARA issued a statement saying, among other things, in 2021 the City of Harare failed to fully its allocation. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
Whilst we don’t want to respond to rhetoric, we feel duty-bound to inform the nation with facts on certain inaccuracies. 
Firstly, we want to categorically state that, ZINARA has consistently disbursed funds for road rehabilitation and maintenance to all the Road Authorities, the City of Harare included.
According to the dictates of the Roads Act, a Road Authority can only access a new disbursement from Zinara after acquitting its previous disbursement. 
As for the City of Harare, it is important for the nation to know that in 2020, their total allocation was 86 million ZWL which could be translated using the prevailing exchange rate at the time and ZINARA disbursed 100 percent of that amount and the city of Harare failed to acquit their last disbursement.
As a result, they failed to access an early disbursement in 2021. The City of Harare’s allocation for 2021 was 1, 3 billion which again can be translated to USD using the exchange rate at the time. 
However, the City of Harare only requested 154 million ZWL of this total allocation and failed to utilise in excess of 1,1 billion ZWL. 
In 2022, they are yet to acquit their fourth quarter disbursement of 566 million ZWL despite the fact that most Road Authorities have already acquitted their 2022 disbursements. 
This means that even if funds were to be disbursed today as per the ZINARA schedule for 2023, Harare residents will still be deprived of service delivery until their Road Authority follows the dictates of the Road Act.
We continue to urge all Road Authorities to timeously acquit the disbursed funds in order to access their next allocation. 
It is a fact that our roads need to be rehabilitated and we need to work hand in glove to address this. 
Whilst some may argue the funds disbursed are not enough to meet all the needs, it will also be noble to be transparent and show the nation how the received funds were utilised.
</blockquote>

ZINARA Responds To Harare Mayor's Threat Of Legal Action Over Road Funds

City of Harare mayor Jacob Mafume has accused the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA) of allocating “crumbs” to the local authority which has made it difficult for them to repair roads in the city.
He said the local authority l has no choice but to take ZINARA to court so that it can be deconstructed and vehicle licensing be brought back to the local authorities.
Mafume said the Harare City Council is now being forced to use its own funds and City Parking funds mostly for road rehabilitation as the allocations from ZINARA are insignificant.
He said the local authority’s failure to repair and maintain roads and the attendant infrastructure began when ZINARA took over.
According to a statement posted on the City of Harare’s Facebook page, in the last five years out of expectations of plus or minus US$60 million per year, the City of Harare received less than US$2.5 million per year.
The local authority said it has not received anything from fuel levy and carbon tax revenues in the past. Mafume was quoted as saying:
<blockquote>
To illustrate the sad state of affairs in the Roads sector we had a target of 40km of road rehabilitation but because of funding constraints we only managed to do 12.5km of rehabilitation and in terms of routine maintenance our target was 450km and on this one we managed to do 436km using funds from City Parking Pvt Ltd and the budget provision.
If ZINARA funds were allocated during the first Quarter of the year, we could have done over 89km of Road Reseal, 52km of overlay and 20km of Road Reconstruction.
The last disbursement made in December 2022 meant that we could only do 15km of reseal, 8km of overlay and 3km of reconstruction.
</blockquote>
Mafume said it was high time responsible authorities and Members of Parliament took heed of the calls by local authorities and residents to reform the ZINARA model.

Harare Mayor Vows To Take ZINARA To Court Over Road Funds

Harare mayor<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Jacob_Mafume"> Jacob Mafume</a> has said the local government authority issued just 163 stands out of a total of 5 000 initially targeted for allocation to home seekers in 2022 by the local authority.
The authority is sitting on a housing backlog of more than half a million people on its waiting list, <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/harare-mayor-admits-bungling-after-council-issued-163-home-stands-out-of-years-target-of-5000/">ZimLive</a> reported citing Mafume’s end-of-year message delivered on Wednesday.
No land allocations were done in 2021 as the Harare City Council suspended the service in 2020 after most of its top housing officials including a housing director and two acting directors were arrested and charged with corruption. Mafume said:
<blockquote>
We continue to perform dismally in the housing sector of the City. Only 163 stands were allocated against a target of 5,000 stands.
We are remodelling the housing delivery strategy so that we work with reputable institutions and developers in the servicing of stands so that we can be able to provide stands with on-site and bulk offsite infrastructure. The current model is not working, and this has created opportunities for land barons to swindle desperate home seekers.
We will in 2023 embark on a programme to ensure that properties get title. In addition to that, we will sell houses to sitting tenants who have occupied the properties for an agreed period.
</blockquote>
Harare also built one school in 2022, Budiriro No 7 Primary School taking the total number of schools from 34 to 35. Mafume said the city fathers will also rename its schools and other properties after some luminaries and prominent individuals.
Meanwhile, the mayor said his council is owed $82.7 billion in unpaid rates by both domestic and commercial entities a situation which he says affects the delivery of public goods and services.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume Says Just 163 Stands Out Of Targeted 5k Were Allocated In 2022

Harare City Council has made a U-turn on its decision to cut ties with <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Sakunda_Holdings">Sakunda Holdings</a> on the <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/harare-city-leases-rufaro-stadium-to-sakunda-holdings-for-refurbishment/">project to renovate Rufaro Stadium.</a>
On Tuesday, the energy giant announced that it was <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/sakunda-abandons-plans-to-modernise-rufaro-stadium-accuses-council-of-toxicity/">withdrawing its commitment to renovate the Mbare-based facility</a> citing a lack of commitment from the City Fathers. Said Sakunda in a letter to Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume:
<blockquote>
We are shocked and disturbed by untruthful and malicious allegations that Sakunda intends to purchase Rufaro Stadium, which is a public asset…
Consequently, we would like to hereby notify you of our immediate withdrawal from the partnership.
</blockquote>
The two parties had earlier this year agreed on a deal that would have seen Sakunda renovating Rufaro Stadium to world-class status under a long-term lease agreement on behalf of Dynamos Football Club.
In response to the withdrawal, Mafume appeared to be unmoved by Sakunda’s withdrawal from the deal, accusing the company owned by Kuda Tagwirei of seeking “a parasitic deal.”
However, Mafume told a press conference this Wednesday that the council was ready to engage with Sakunda Holdings to revive the deal. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/theindependent/sport/article/200003680/harare-seeks-sakunda-talks-on-rufaro">The Independent</a> cites him as saying:
<blockquote>
We are still open to negotiate with them.
There is nothing to drag. They (Sakunda) were supposed to come to a presentation to present their feasibility studies in terms of the agreement and if we had dragged any feet, they would have sent a notice or even written to us or sought an appointment with the Mayor as the head of the institution. There is no record of such a letter or anything of that sort that has happened. What we have is that they are talking about rumours in the letter but I don’t know what that means. What we have insisted and reiterated is that we need to enter into mutually beneficial agreements as a city with our business people so that we don’t end up signing things we do not understand or hand over assets of the public. We have not dragged any feet nor said we do not want to partner them.
</blockquote>
In the proposal, Sakunda Holding expressed its vision to drive community development in Mbare by establishing a Fifa-accredited stadium for use by Dynamos and other local clubs.
The rehabilitation of Belgravia Sports Club and its facilities for use by Dynamos for training purposes was also part of the deal.
Rufaro Stadium last hosted league matches during the 2019 season before it was red-flagged by the Zifa First Instance Board in 2020.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Rufaro Stadium Project: Harare Mayor Says Council Is Open To Negotiate With Sakunda

Energy firm Sakunda Holdings has pulled out of the deal to partner with Harare City Council to refurbish Rufaro Stadium which is owned by the local authority.
In a letter dated 7 November 2022 and addressed to the City of Harare mayor, Jacob Mafume, Sakunda Holdings’ chief operating officer (COO), M Chitambo, said they were withdrawing from the partnership due to “untruthful and malicious allegations” emanating from the local authority. Wrote Chitambo:
<blockquote>
Following our numerous unsuccessful requests to present to your office our final feasibility study report and proposed designs for the refurbishment of Rufaro Stadium, we write to express our gravest misgivings on the unfortunate events and communications emanating from your office.
We are shocked and disturbed by untruthful and malicious allegations that Sakunda intends to purchase Rufaro Stadium, which is a public asset.
Nothing could be further from the truth, and we believe you know that. These unfounded allegations are grounded on malice and a coordinated attempt to curtail our efforts to contribute to the revival and modernization of public infrastructure.
We wish to place it on record again that Sakunda did not have any commercial interests in this project, suffice to say that our participation in the same was entirely philanthropic, for the public good.
Consequently, we would like to hereby notify you of our immediate withdrawal from the partnership.
</blockquote>
Chitambo said Sakunda Holdings entered into the partnership with Harare City Council as part of its social responsibility which also includes the sponsorship of Dynamos and Highlanders. He said:
<blockquote>
Pursuant to our corporate social responsibility thrust which includes the sponsorship of Dynamos and Highlanders Football Clubs, Sakunda approached the Harare City Council with a proposal to enter into a partnership that sought to refurbish Rufaro Stadium and its precincts.
The proposal culminated in the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), whose framework required Sakunda and the Harare City Council to come up with a project feasibility study, following which a detailed technical agreement for the project would be concluded between the parties.
In fulfillment of this mutually shared vision, we were optimistic that after the presentation of the feasibility report and proposed designs to Council, parties would proceed to conclude the technical agreement and proceed to project implementation.
</blockquote>
Chitambo claimed that a project management team comprising both Sakunda and City Council officials conducted research and benchmarked a stadium design for the refurbishment of Rufaro Stadium.
He said the team also visited stadiums in South Africa and engaged experts and suppliers who were involved in these projects, in order to enable them to understand what needed to be done.
The team also managed to carry out a full environmental and social impacts assessment and engaged all key and relevant stakeholders of the City of Harare for a full consultative meeting, according to Chitambo.
The Sakunda Holdings COO accused the Council of having a toxic attitude and a lack of political will to implement the project as the reasons for the firm’s withdrawal from the partnership.
Chitambo said all project designs and plans will be donated to Council in the public interest.
The letter was copied to the Permanent Secretary in the Local Government Ministry, Harare Town Clerk, City of Harare Chamber Secretary, City of Harare Chairman, and Dynamos Football Club.

Sakunda Abandons Plans To Modernise Rufaro Stadium, Accuses Council Of "Toxicity"

Harare mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume has said the latest government salary schedules are a mockery adding that he was now one of the country’s lowest-paid workers.
Mafume made the remarks while reading the latest salary schedule for councillors at a full council meeting in the capital on Thursday last week, according to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200002473/mafume-laughs-off-latest-govt-salary-schedule">NewsDay</a>.
The schedule stated that Mafume is now earning $198 000 (US$314.53) per month while his deputy is getting $127 000, committee chairpersons are getting $120 000 and councillors are getting $115 000. Mafume said:
<blockquote>
The government said I am now earning almost $198 000, a salary equal to a Mwenezi council chairman, my deputy is earning $127 027,47 while committee chairpersons are earning $120 98,68 while councillors are the least paid workers, getting $115 000. 
</blockquote>
The government <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/govt-sets-us150-as-minimum-payable-wage-across-sectors/">recently set US$150 as the minimum payable wage</a> across all sectors saying it can be paid either in Zimbabwe dollars or foreign currency at the prevailing bank rate.
Mafume also announced that there would be a full council meeting on refuse collection. Mafuume said:
<blockquote>
We are going to have a special full council meeting early next week on refuse collection. We don’t have enough refuse trucks.
Whenever I am walking on the streets, I am always asked when are we going to collect refuse. It is now a nightmare,” Mafume said.
</blockquote>
Gold dealer and Harare ward 21 Councillor Scott Sakupwanya said he will provide “refuse trucks and that is why I won.”
The council has since suspended foreign trips for councillors and management to focus on service delivery.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

Harare Mayor Mafume Says Latest Govt Salary Schedules Are A Mockery

Harare mayor, His Worship Councillor Jacob Mafume, says the City of Harare needs new water sources to be able to provide adequate water for its residents.
Addressing congregants at the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) in Zimbabwe Greater Harare Conference underway at Glamis Arena, Harare, Mafume said Harare City Council has plans to avail refuse collection trucks for every ward to deal with the problem of litter.
Listen to the audio below for more:

<audio controls="controls" preload="none"><a href="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Harare-Mayor-Jacob-Mafume.ogg">https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Harare-Mayor-Jacob-Mafume.ogg</a></audio>

LISTEN: Harare Mayor Addresses Service Delivery Concerns At AFM Church Conference

City of Harare’s mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume, has expressed concern over the state of sporting facilities in the capital, with most of them in a sorry state.
Harare City Council owns several sporting facilities that include Rufaro Stadium, Gwanzura Stadium, the City Sports Centre, swimming pools, halls and other grounds which are all in need of urgent attention.
Addressing an Education, Health, Housing and Community Services and Licensing meeting, Mafume said the state of stadia and poor customer care impact negatively the local authority economy. He said:
<blockquote>
We need to be serious as council and do the basics. Let us give a service that we parrot about and not just watch things collapse in the manner it has happened.
We are a city that must lead but with poor customer care, we scare away those giving us business.
Surely, we can do better than this. For now, let us not worry about world-class city status but worry about fixing these fundamentals.
</blockquote>

Harare Mayor Raises Concern Over State Of Stadiums

Harare Mayor, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Jacob_Mafume">Jacob Mafume</a>, has claimed that the local government authority is owed ZWL$45 Billion by residents, the central government and businesses.
Mafume, a Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) councillor for Ward 17 Mount Pleasant, made the remarks while addressing a stakeholders’ meeting recently at Town House. 
He said the huge debt has rendered the city’s financial state unsustainable and was hindering service delivery. Said the law expert:
<blockquote>
The failure by residents, institutions and Government Ministries to pay for services has affected our operations because we are failing to pay our service providers.
As we discuss the performance of the 2022 budget, those are some of the figures we need to keep in mind. Business needs to come on board to rescue the City. There are many areas where we can partner and get return on investment.
</blockquote>
Mayor Mafume said the post-payment of services was not conducive to the prevailing economic environment.
<h2>The debt as of August 2022:</h2>
<blockquote>
i). Industry and Commerce owed the city ZWL$16 billion, 
ii). Residents ZWL$13 billion, 
iii). Government ZWL$961 million
iv). Dormitory towns owe ZWL$1.1 billion. 
v). Other stakeholders owe the remainder.
</blockquote>
Harare has been failing to provide services such as sewer reticulation, provision of potable water, street lighting, garbage collection and road rehabilitation. It blames the trajectory on the lack of adequate funding. 
Critics, however, argue that the city fathers collect enough money to fund service delivery but choose to enrich themselves.
Critics often cite the alleged <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/07/17/parliament-grills-harare-city-council-over-misused-us144-million-loan/">maladministration of $144 million China Export and Import Bank loan</a> for the rehabilitation of water infrastructure and sewer treatment plants.
Part of the money was allegedly abused by city council management who bought themselves vehicles. 
The maladministration of the loan was part of the reason for the sacking of former town clerk Tendai Mahachi.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

Mayor Says Harare Is Owed ZWL$45 billion By Residents, Govt And Business

The City of Harare has reversed its recent directive that compelled residents to pay for some services exclusively in foreign currency.
Speaking at an urgent special council meeting on Thursday, Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume said ratepayers can now pay for services in the currency of their choice.
The local authority reversed its unpopular decision after its bank accounts were frozen by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). Said Mafume:
<blockquote>
When we sent out a notice on exclusive US dollar payments, it caused a bit of a ruffle in the market and drew the attention of regulatory authorities to the extent that FIU froze our US dollar accounts.
Top management went to FIU to find out what had caused that, and we agreed that in the meantime we are going to allow residents to use currencies of their choice.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/new-harare-city-council-reverses-us-dollar-payments">The Sunday Mail</a>

City Of Harare Reverses US Dollar Billing

Harare residents have told city authorities to value their pre-budget input saying consultations should not just be a formality. 
They made the remarks during consultations that commenced yesterday in ward 10, Sunningdale.
<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Combined_Harare_Residents_Association_(CHRA)">Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)</a> acting director Ruben Akili told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/08/value-our-pre-budget-input-residents-tell-hcc/">NewsDay</a> that the residents’ pre-budget input is not reflected in the final documents by the local government authority. Akili said:
<blockquote>
We encourage residents to attend these meetings so that they give their input. But these should not be cosmetic or mere ticking of boxes to say that the consultations have been carried out. We anticipate that the residents’ input will be captured and prioritised in the 2023 budget. Our observation is that in some instances residents’ needs are not captured. There is no political will.
For example, there is a crèche in Warren Park D whose construction started in the early 90s, but it is still incomplete. Budgeting towards that has been done several times. Where are we spending the money? When residents lack answers they will do deliberate disengagement.
We saw the local authority spending US$136 000 at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair. That money can even buy a refuse truck or finish a building, but it was blown within three days in Bulawayo. A total of 60 people from Harare City Council went to the ZITF, which is not a priority.
</blockquote>
Akili urged the authorities to avoid being partisan when they invite people for pre-budget consultations as that will hinder discussion on pertinent issues.
Harare Residents Trust director <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Precious_Shumba">Precious Shumba</a> encouraged the council not to lease some of its facilities, but to use them to generate revenue that goes directly to council coffers.
Mayor Jacob Mafume promised to prioritise residents’ input as that enhances service delivery.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

Harare Residents Say Consultation Meetings Shouldn't Be A formality

Harare mayor Jacob Mafume on Monday called for the recognition of the late MDC founding president Morgan Tsvangirai as a national hero for the role he played in the democratisation of Zimbabwe.
Tsvangirai, who was the Prime Minister during the Government of National Unity (GNU) era (2009-2013), died on 14 February 2018 after battling colon cancer and was buried at Humanikwa Village in Buhera.
Mafume, who is the councillor for Mt Pleasant Ward 17 (CCC), said that there is no doubt that Tsvangirai should be granted national hero status. He said:
<blockquote>
There are some heroes who are yet to be recognised, like Morgan Tsvangirai. They need formal status, heroes who did a lot for the democratisation of this country, heroes who did a lot to accept that we can belong to different parties but still be one nation.
We have no quarrel with the sacrifices made by (Josiah) Tongogara. Neither do we have any quarrel with the sacrifices made by Herbert Chitepo, (Ndabaningi) Sithole and the many other young people who sacrificed their lives for our independence and liberation.
If they respect us, we respect them. If they honour us, we honour them, and that is how a nation should be.
</blockquote>
On Monday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/mnangagwa-declares-ndabaningi-sithole-chikerema-national-heroes/">said that the late nationalists Ndabaningi Sithole and James Chikerema will be honoured among the country’s heroes and heroines</a> “despite their areas of weaknesses”.
More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/morgan-tsvangirai-deserves-national-hero-status-mayor/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

Morgan Tsvangirai Deserves National Hero Status - Harare Mayor

Harare mayor Jacob Mafume said the City of Harare will re-evaluate some of the deals it entered into with various investors as some of them have failed to take off within the agreed timeframes.
Mafume said the partnerships between the Harare City Council and investors should help fund service delivery and those that are not in residents’ best interests will either be renegotiated or terminated. The City of Harare said in a statement:
<blockquote>
Mayor [Jacob Mafume] says Council will re-evaluate some of the multi-million dollar deals it entered into with various investors most of which have not been performing or failed to take off at agreed time frames.
He said some of the partnerships will have to be renegotiated so that they benefit Council while dormant ones may be terminated.
In most of the deals, council provides land, and technical and intellectual input.
Mayor Mafume said the deals have to assist in funding service delivery and improving the lives of residents.
</blockquote>
Harare City Council recently clashed with the Local Government and Public Works Ministry after it suspended its Pomona Waste to Energy Joint Venture Agreement with Geogenix B.V.
The local authority said it has no capacity to pay the Netherlands-based company for dumping garbage at Pomona dumpsite but the central government insists the deal cannot be cancelled.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, 20 July on the Pomona deal, the Secretary for Local Government and Public Works Zvinechimwe Churu cancelling the deal will damage Zimbabwe’s investor reputation.

Harare To Terminate Some Multi-million Dollar Deals - Mafume

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has reiterated that Harare City Council (HCC) wanted its Pomona dumpsite back instead of lending it to Geogenix BV for 30 years.
Geogenix BV is a Netherlands-based investor identified by the local government ministry to construct a 22MW power plant at the site.
It was given its full ownership at the commencement of the <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/harare-geogenix-bv-issue-joint-statement-on-pomona-waste-to-power-project/">US$344 million Waste-Energy deal</a> three months ago. 
Local Government and Public Works minister <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/July_Moyo">July Moyo</a> was identified as the man behind the multi-million-dollar deal, which is being fronted by <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Dilesh_Nguwaya">Dilesh Nguwaya</a> who is said to have close links with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s family.
Norton legislator, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Temba_Mliswa">Temba Mliswa</a>, recently claimed that <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/norton-mp-claims-minister-july-moyo-got-10-commission-on-pomona-waste-energy-deal/">July Moyo got 10 per cent from the deal</a>.
Addressing reporters at Town House this Wednesday, Mafume said individuals championing the deal will be dead after the 30 years it is supposed to run. He <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/we-stand-by-our-resolutions-not-to-pay-geogenix-bv-for-pomona-waste-mayor-mafume/">reiterated the remarks he made yesterday</a>:
<blockquote>
We have not climbed down on the Pomona deal, we want our dumpsite back,” said Mafume.
We do not have the money even if we were to pay, we will not allow council funds to be utilised for a purpose that is not with the residents, nor will we allow devolution funds to be used for a priority that is not determined by the council.
I want to assure residents and I want to make it clear that they are not paying (the debt) with council funds, and they are not paying with devolution funds. We do not agree to this contract, and we want the dumpsite back for the residents.
There is currently nothing at the site, besides an eight-roomed cottage and a jojo tank. There is no investment yet and we are expected to pay such large amounts of money.
This dumpsite was bought by the people of Harare in 1985, thereabouts. Where have you ever heard of a landlord paying for his own land.
</blockquote>
Harare city council will be looking at an over US$2 million bill by end of this month after failing to settle the US$780 000 and US$1 million being demanded in previous months.
The agreement compels the local government authority to pay a daily US$22 000 bill whether it dumps waste or not. The figure will be doubled after 12 months.
Mafume said Harare prioritised its devolution funds for the purchase of ambulances, not Pomona adding that they “will exhaust all legal routes to reverse” the deal.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume Reiterates Harare Wants Its Pomona Dumpsite Back

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