Harare — WE note with grave concern the deterioration of service delivery in Harare at a time the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare has issued several cholera alerts with hardly any movement at Town House.
What disturbs us even more is the apparent indifference by the city fathers among who is a mayor and councillors who pledged to work for the city but who are carrying on as if everything is normal.
Already one person has died in Budiriro and 20 others drawn from Dzivaresekwa, Highfield, Budiriro, Chikurubi, Mbare, Glen Norah and Glen View have been hospitalised at Beatrice Road Infectious Diseases Hospitals following the outbreak of cholera in several southern suburbs.
A total of 27 people have died of cholera in Chitungwiza, Chinhoyi and Kariba since the disease resurfaced two months ago. It comes as no surprise to us that the cholera outbreak has followed the southern belt given the critical shortage of water, mounds of festering garbage, and streams of raw sewage that criss-cross many a high-density suburb street.
Over the past six weeks, the streets in the Central Business District and its environs have not been cleaned after council failed to provide protective clothing to workers in the Waste Management Department. Public toilets are not being cleaned, ostensibly due to shortage of chemicals and rubbish has not been collected in several suburbs.
A visitor to Harare would be shocked to know that there is a 46-member strong elected council in Harare, some of whose members have just returned from a needless foreign-currency guzzling foreign trip.
This is not what the voter and ratepayer expects of the councillors they elected and a mayor on whom they pinned so much hope.
What has happened to all the glittering election promises?
Several council meetings have been convened and many progressive resolutions made on turning around the affairs of the city. It is shocking that the office of the Town Clerk, which should oversee implementation, has not moved to implement the resolutions, some of which were left in the tray by the previous commissions.
The powers that be at Town House must know that they were not forced into office, but were elected to office pledging to work for the same people they have apparently forgotten.
Equally disturbing are reports that there may be a political dimension to the lethargy at Town House, where some people were apparently waiting for the envisaged inclusive government to spring into action.
We hope those reports are wrong because an elected council represents people across the divide. It should never be held hostage by people wishing to score cheap political points.
What is more, World Cup 2010 is around the corner. Is this the city we want foreign visitors to see should they decide to camp in Harare?

Comments 1 to 5 of 12 Post a comment
This is childish. Cholera is spreading throughout the country thanks to the collapse of health services and untreated water is the only option after Zinwa took the delivery of water out of the hands of local government. Now Mugabe's mouthpiece suggests that the fault lies with the local mayor and not central goverment. Thankfully the electorate is far too intelligent to not see through such immature politics.
Katz, you are absolutely right the problem of cholera in Zimbabwe is due to chemical shortages to treat drinking water and sewage in Zimbabwe. President Mugabe has failed to procure chemicals from abroad and blocs those NGO and international agencies who would help.
This limited information from the Herald newspaper, a government paper, indicates that Zimbabwe is clearly in deep problems. The Herald is only scratching the surface, due to censorship. This yet again is a remind that the people of Zimbabwe are suffering and each day is a struggle for survival.
Mugabe must be removed from power ASAP, before a blood bath and before total break down of society takes place.
Kazt and Phiri, You are both right that the problem of water in Harare, and indeed the whole country is as a result of shortage of chemicals. However, you are absolutely wrong on the cause of this shortage. Tsvangirai, first and foremost, is to blame for the shortage of forex which could have been used to buy chemicals.
He is the one who called for sanctions and these sanctions are the ones which have resulted in us being unable to secure enough forex for all the needs of the country and not only chemicals. Had he not called for sanctions, we would be self providing as we are very capable of meeting our needs with the resources we have.
Zimbabweans are indeed "suffering and each day is a struggle for survival" simply because of one person - Tsvangirai. It is him and him alone who has to be liable for the suffering of the Zimbabwean people. We used to trade freely and were able to get enough forex but now, as a result of the sanctions that Tsvangirai called for, we cannot trade freely with the outside world. We have never begged anyone for assistance, NGOs included. We have worked, as equals, with those who wanted to do business with us and this policy has not changed.
Today, those countries and individuals who want to do business with us are threatened by Britain and USA and hence have had to stay back. ALL because of Tsvangirai. Do not tell me the usual denials that Tsvangirai did not call for sanctions because he did, not once, but many times. The IMF and World Bank which used to provide credit lines are no longer doing so because America and Britain are blocking all of these channels. UN agencies which provide same have also been threaned by the same bullies. But the issues is that these institutions are not American or British so there is no reason why the two regimes should stop them from doing business with us.
President Mugabe has never blocked anyone who wants to provide these chemicals. What the govt has said, and which it will continue to say, is that those NGOs which intend on interferring with our internal affairs will never be allowed to operate in our country. It is as simple as all that. Those NGOs that are into humanitarian work have never been banned and will never be. You should therefore not extend our propaganda to saying such stupid nonsense.
As for your desire to remove the President violently, well, we are eagerly awaiting that day. But plse you, yourselves, should partake in that uprising and not direct from the terraces. We want to see amadhodha sibili. However, it is worth mentioning that war is not a walk in the park. If only you could see and think of how devastating this monister called WAR is, you would not say what you are saying. Take a look at DRCongo and see how people are suffering and dying from this monister, but if you insist Hende choo!!!
I am happy to tell you that, after thinking seriously about starting a war, and when you are fully convinced that you want to go for it, then come and we will be waiting for you. I, for one, am more that prepared to defend the President Mugabe, the country, the masses of the people and the revolution.
We are fully aware that MDC has always wanted to gain, by force of arms, what it failed to gain through the ballot. So it will not be a surprise to hear that they have secured training bases in some countries for the start of an insurgency war in Zimbabwe. It will also not be a surprise to hear that Britain has offered the MDC the more than one thousand Zimbabweans in its army, who are ready to be deployed when the insurgency war starts, for this purpose.
We are therefore more than prepared to meet them and the two of you, (and if you want you can also invite Prem and Awt_independent) on the battle field.
Up to 51 now Takunya, keep up the good work!
Please ignore any comments from Takunya and Comical Mabhiza. The more irrational nonsense they speak, the longer the list grows and the clearer it becomes how idiotic they are. Here are some facts (and you cant argue with facts!) why..
1) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza work for the Herald, are paid by the ZANU PF to spread propaganda and lies, and to twist the truth in the ZANU PF's favor on the internet.
2) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza are one and the same person.
3) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza have stated that Mugabe is the most democratic leader in Africa. Seriously!
4) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza have stated that "in a bid to tarnish the image of Zanu pf, MDC went on a killing spree and murderered 130 MDC and Zanu pf supporters in the process."
5) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe there were " over 200 CIA operatives criss-crossing the country during the elections."
6) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe "Even the British are not happy with Tsvangirai's leaning towards the Americans when it was their (regime change) project in the first place.
7) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe that "Prem and Awt_independent, Phiri are hired by the MDC establishment. Infact they are the brains in MDC hence are the ones strategising attacks on the Zimbabwean people be it via violence or sanctions." So now I work for the CIA, MI5 (see below) and the MDC.
8) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe that war veterans and police officers should be allowed to bar the MDC from distributing food to starving orphans.
9) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe that freedom of speech should not exist in Zimbabwe and newspaper editors should be monitored to ensure they subscribe to the Zanu PF government's policies.
10) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe that the US and Britain have openly stated that they are working with Zimbabwean journalists for "illegal regime change"
11) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe the west "created the HIV virus and injected it into the African people. They then turned around and alleged that HIV originated in Africa"
12) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe the MDC has a "dictatorial leader who does not allow alternative voices". Rather ironic that one.
13) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza both support the use of violence, murder, rape and torture by Mugabe against the people of Zimbabwe.
14) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza both believe that Bush is responsible for atrocities in Iraq, and this justifies Mugabe's atrocities in Zimbabwe, including the genocide of 20,000 Ndebele people and the murders of over 100 MDC supporters during this years elections.
15) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza should be ignored because none of their posts are truthful and they are always misleading.
16) If you say anything against Mugabe, Takunya and Comical Mabhiza will say that you are paid by the CIA and MI5 to write here.
17) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza have stated that "Tsvangirai appeared on BBC Hardtalk programme and asked for the cutting of electricity, trade and transport links". The episode of hard talk is available here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv-Zs1V7j-U. And not once does Tsvangirai call for sanctions of any type.
18) The CIA does not pay me. If they do, please give them my bank account details, all cards accepted. :-)
19) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza will also resort to childish name calling when they have no factual evidence based argument.
20) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza both believe that Tsvangirai called for sanctions against the people of Mugabe.
21) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza should be ignored because non of their posts are truthful and they are always misleading.
22) Tsvangirai never called for sanctions against the people of Zimbabwe.
23) When confronted and asked for evidence of this, Takunya and Comical Mabhiza have none.
24) The Sanctions faced by Zimbabwe are not against the people of Zimbabwe.
25) The Sanctions faced by Zimbabwe are only against the government and its ministers, and 4 companies, including one that makes military uniforms.
26) None of these Sanctions are faced by the people of Zimbabwe.
27) Tsvangirai is not responsible for these sanctions.
28) If Tsvangirai did not exist, there would still be sanctions on Zimbabwe (as described above).
29) Therefore Tsvangirai is 100% independent of Zimbabwe being sanctioned as above.
30) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza should be ignored because non of their posts are truthful and they are always misleading.
31) Biti and Ncube, and Tsvangirai had no input into the drafting of the American sanctions bill.
32) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe the west wants to recolonise Zimbabwe.
33) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe the west wants to invade Zimbabwe.
34) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza should be ignored because non of their posts are truthful and they are always misleading.
35) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe the west wants to poison aid and kill Zimbabweans.
36) Tsvangirai has never denied aid to the Zimbabwean people, only Mugabe has done this.
37) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza should be ignored because non of their posts are truthful and they are always misleading.
38) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe that Zimbabwe only has partial independence and that the fight against colonialism still goes on.
39) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe that Tsvangirai called for sanctions whilst being interviewed on BBC HardTalk in 2000.
40) Tsvangirai never appeared on BBC HardTalk in 2000. More lies.
41) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe that the British want to bomb Zimbabwe.
42) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe that the west wants to inject AIDS into aid to give to the people of Zimbabwe.
43) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe that west want to destabilize Zimbabwe and "make it ungovernable for eventual American and British takeover just like in Iraq and Afghanistan."
44) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe that Tsvangirai didnt attend the meeting of SADC heads in Swaziland because he refused to go, and that he had a valid passport tor travel. This is after the Zim government clearly stated that Tsvangirai wasnt issued a passport because there was no paper to make passports due to paper being under sanction.
45) Paper is not under any type of sanction.
46) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe that Zimbabwe does not need any outside help.
47) Takunya and Comical Mabhiza believe that Bush is tainting Genetically Modified Foods with Aids and delivering it to Zimbabwe. Is this even possible?
48) Takunya and comical Mabhiza believe that Tsvangirai boycotted the Swaziland summet in favour of a round of golf.
49) Takunya and comical Mabhiza believe the MDC have secured training bases in some countries for the start of an insurgency war in Zimbabwe.
50) Takunya and comical Mabhiza believe that Britain has offered the MDC "the more than one thousand Zimbabweans in its army, who are ready to be deployed when the insurgency war starts, for this purpose."
51) For saying these things, Takunya and Mabhiza have tried to discredit me by saying that "You have supported the American war on Iraq and Afghanistan. You have supported the torture of suspected terrorists by the CIA as it practises its extraordinary randition around the world. You have supported the rape of women and girls by the American soldiers many times. You have supported the use of chemical weapons on civilians in Vietnam many times on this forum. You are a CIA agent. You have been exposed as a bitter former white commercial farmer who got recruted by the CIA. You are totally against the land reform do not lie. You were part of the killing machinary that massacred our comrades at Chimoio, Nyadzonya, Mkushi etc."
All of this is simply propaganda made up by Takunya and Mabhiza to discredit what I say in my posts. And obvious as such to everyone with a brain. And I wouldnt be campaigning so strongly for the people of Zimbabwe who are subject to such practices at the hands of the Butcher of Harare if any of this were true. Water off a ducks back to me though.
PS did everyone spot the 4 spelling mistakes in that piece of nonsense. Someone needs to learn how to spell too. :-)
So just ignore Takunya and Comical Mabhiza, and let these facts speak for themselves.
Thank you for your time
Takunya, Tsvangirai is not the President of Zimbabwe. Why not put the blame on the current illegal President Robert Mugabe!
Takunya, for a change have a HEART for the millions of Zimbabweans now facing starvation, disease, HIV/AIDS (without medicine). Life has gotten a lot worse. Look around Zimbabwe...Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Namibia and Angola all have changed their liberation hero Presidentsw. For the most part our neigbors are doing fine, without them. Zimbabwe will do fine without Mugabe or Zanu-pf in power.
Mugabe is seriously brain washing you.....
See All Comments