The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) is deeply concerned with the controversy that surrounds the appointment of special interests Councilors in Harare. Minister of Local Government, Dr. Ignatius Chombo, was biased in his choice of special interests Councilors and he did not take into account the fact that these Councilors are supposed to enhance the work of the City Council and not just add to the number of Councilors at Town House.

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) convened a Civil Society meeting on water on the 10^th of June 2009 at the CHRA boardroom in the city centre. The meeting was prompted by the Minister of Local Government’s directive to Council to constitute a water utility to manage water supply and sewer reticulation for Harare. The meeting that was attended by seven representatives of civil society organizations sought to collect opinions from civic society and adopt a common position with respect to the best water supply and sewer reticulation management model for the city of Harare. The Civic society representatives and leaders in attendance were guided by the following in finding a common position;

11 June 2009

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) and the National Residents Associations Consultative Forum (NRACF) reject and will contest the decision by Government to authorize the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Company (ZESA) to disconnect electricity over outstanding payments. This response by the Residents Associations is based on the fact that the electricity tariffs charged by ZESA are exorbitant while the bills that are being discharged to households by ZESA are unjustified; in the sense that they are either based on estimates or way above the consumption made.