News / National
Mufakose community takes human rights based approach to challenge property attachment
30 Oct 2015 at 18:41hrs | Views
At a meeting organised by local Community Water Alliance leadership in Mufakose on Friday 30 October 2015, Mufakose residents resolved to challenge the root cause to purported debt accruing on residents' bills.
The archaic billing system for the City of Harare was identified as one of the root causes to the purported debt.
Residents resolved to seek legal assistance to challenge the billing system.
Women lawyers' organisations, CSOs with legal clinics and legal foundations were identified as possible institutions to approach for legal assistance.
The affected residents had writ of execution of judgment issued after summons because they lacked knowledge on procedures to respond and also did not have money to seek legal representation.
Some residents had summons and writ of execution of judgment issued for purported debt of as low as twenty four United States Dollars.
The meeting realised that although the obligation to fulfil the right to water is subject to availability of resources, the state and local authorities are complacent to honour their obligation to respect and protect this right.
Community Water Alliance contends that the "purported" debt accruing on residents bills is exaggerated by the City's archaic billing system.
The attachment of property is therefore unjustified in most cases and a violation of the human right to water.
Community Water Alliance will pursue the use of payment plans to resolve justified debt accruing on water bills.
It calls for effective governance in the City of Harare water provision so as to address root causes to challenges in the sector.
The archaic billing system for the City of Harare was identified as one of the root causes to the purported debt.
Residents resolved to seek legal assistance to challenge the billing system.
Women lawyers' organisations, CSOs with legal clinics and legal foundations were identified as possible institutions to approach for legal assistance.
The affected residents had writ of execution of judgment issued after summons because they lacked knowledge on procedures to respond and also did not have money to seek legal representation.
Some residents had summons and writ of execution of judgment issued for purported debt of as low as twenty four United States Dollars.
The meeting realised that although the obligation to fulfil the right to water is subject to availability of resources, the state and local authorities are complacent to honour their obligation to respect and protect this right.
Community Water Alliance contends that the "purported" debt accruing on residents bills is exaggerated by the City's archaic billing system.
The attachment of property is therefore unjustified in most cases and a violation of the human right to water.
Community Water Alliance will pursue the use of payment plans to resolve justified debt accruing on water bills.
It calls for effective governance in the City of Harare water provision so as to address root causes to challenges in the sector.
Source - Mufakose Community
