HARARE – The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) says it has expressed “extreme displeasure” over recent reports that the City Council of Harare has purchased expensive vehicles for two of its directors.

The two vehicles are reported to have been acquired at a total cost of up to US$190 000.

“This comes after the Mayor defied the residents and went ahead to purchase a Mercedes Benz ML that saw the same residents forking out US$153 000,” a statement issued by the residents’ association says.

“This means that the City Council has so far spent no less than US$343 000 on three vehicles only. Inquiries by CHRA indicate that US$343 000 is enough to procure water treatment chemicals that can supply the entire city of Harare with clean water for almost half a year.”

CHRA said a snap survey of the water supply and availability situation in the city of Harare had revealed that the suburbs of Glen Lorne, Mandara, Greendale and Greystone Park had not received any water since January, 2008. Meanwhile Mabvuku and Tafara had remained dry since 2007.

While Masasa Park receives water one day a week, Sunningdale has been supplied only with filthy water, the association reports.

CHRA has since written to the Mayor, Muchadeyi Masunda, to demand a meeting over this issue by Thursday September 3. Alternatively CHRA warns the City Fathers of “a massive residents’ protest and a broad based rates boycott”, saying consultations to that end are already underway.

“CHRA remains committed to cooperation with the City Council to rebuild the City of Harare, but will certainly not hesitate to revert to the confrontational approach, should this be necessary to achieve the purpose of rebuilding Harare,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the association has urged residents who have been threatened with legal action by council over what it describes as unreasonable outstanding bills to approach the CHRA offices for assistance.

By Staff reporter and agencies