By Correspondent
Some Harare Councillors have resorted to hiring service delivery vehicles for Council fearing backlash from residents.
The revelations are contained in the latest Council minutes.
According to the Acting Director of Harare Water, the department is facing a variety of operational challenges.
“(The) department is operating with 44 vehicles instead of the required 110.
These are for water treatment, distribution, wastewater treatment and conveyance as well as support mechanical.
“Currently some work stations are on a sit-in due to non-issuance of personal protective clothing.
“This is negatively affecting attendance to water bursts and sewer chokes.
“Procurement of spares had slowed down reaction time to water bursts and chokes.
“The procurement system had been slowed down as it was carried out through to the new E- GP system.
The incapacitation has resulted in poor service delivery and angered residents.
In a bid to allay the tension and anger from residents some Cllrs are now hiring service vehicles.
“Ward councillors, fearing a backlash from residents, have ended up hiring vehicles.
“They are paying for fuel using their own money to serve at the District Offices.
The Cllrs have since called for officials with more than one vehicles to return one”.
Councillors expressed that Directors and Managers who are in possession of more than one council vehicle should surrender extra vehicles to the department to enable it to carry out its mandate.
They have also accused the same officials of failing to proffer solutions to the challenges.
However, implementation of the Committee’s resolutions remains a challenge.
This is due to council management’s repeated failure to implement the resolutions made by the committee on environment.
