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Chombo's company involved in prepaid water meters installation in Harare
10 Oct 2016 at 14:19hrs | Views
Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo's company is reported to have been involved in the installation of prepaid water meters in Harare amid concerns that there was corrupt tender allocation in the deal.
Harare Residents Trust reported that among the companies that installed prepaid water meters in Harare's suburbs is a company that is owned by the Minister of Home Affairs, who is the former Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Ignatius Chombo.
"What this implies is that these deals to secure contracts for the supply of prepaid water meters are designed deliberately to enrich the rich and well connected, riding on their political connections. The citizens are gradually being disempowered and marginalised from actively participating in their local affairs by officials and councillors who have connived to see dollars in every resident instead of seeing relationships and service delivery," said the trust.
"Where this occurs, a breakdown results, and to rebuild the trust and relationship it would require more time and effort. So therefore the fight against prepaid water meters should also be a fight against nepotism in business dealings and demanding transparency and accountability is our mandate. We demand that everything being done for the public must be open to public scrutiny."
The trust said unfortunately, the Harare City Councillors are fully in support of the privatisation of water, and they no longer have the support of the majority of residents, who have rejected prepaid water meters.
"Whose side are the councillors? Money or Politics? Because they cannot serve the residents if their only choices are money or politics, meaning their own survival," said the trust.
Harare Residents Trust reported that among the companies that installed prepaid water meters in Harare's suburbs is a company that is owned by the Minister of Home Affairs, who is the former Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Ignatius Chombo.
"What this implies is that these deals to secure contracts for the supply of prepaid water meters are designed deliberately to enrich the rich and well connected, riding on their political connections. The citizens are gradually being disempowered and marginalised from actively participating in their local affairs by officials and councillors who have connived to see dollars in every resident instead of seeing relationships and service delivery," said the trust.
The trust said unfortunately, the Harare City Councillors are fully in support of the privatisation of water, and they no longer have the support of the majority of residents, who have rejected prepaid water meters.
"Whose side are the councillors? Money or Politics? Because they cannot serve the residents if their only choices are money or politics, meaning their own survival," said the trust.
Source - online
