Harare City Council plans to bring back the ward retention fund after many years. This program helps neighborhoods handle basic services directly. City officials want to restart the fund because many everyday repairs face delays due to paperwork requirements. Local citizens recently filed a lawsuit against the council because it failed to give neighborhoods their required 25 percent share of collected property taxes.
The ward retention money supports community projects that local people need, but city budgets often ignore. During Thursday's full council meeting, Ward 41 representative Kudzai Kadzombe explained her personal experience with the missing funds. She mentioned that since 2019, the city never provided any retention money for her area. The situation became difficult enough that neighborhood residents collected money themselves to build a standard office for her.
Kadzombe pushed for changes to the current system. She believes district officers and regional managers need direct control of retention funds to speed up community improvements. Her comments highlight how the absence of these funds impacts daily life across Harare neighborhoods. The lack of local funding creates delays in addressing problems that affect residents every day.
Ward 16 representative Denford Ngadziore raised additional concerns during the meeting. He introduced a motion against providing free parking privileges for Members of Parliament. Ngadziore argued that regular citizens from city communities deserve these benefits more than lawmakers. He also spoke against plans to offer motorcycle loans to council members. Ngadziore stated clearly that both proposals fail to address the real needs facing Harare residents.
The ward retention money supports community projects that local people need, but city budgets often ignore. During Thursday's full council meeting, Ward 41 representative Kudzai Kadzombe explained her personal experience with the missing funds. She mentioned that since 2019, the city never provided any retention money for her area. The situation became difficult enough that neighborhood residents collected money themselves to build a standard office for her.
Kadzombe pushed for changes to the current system. She believes district officers and regional managers need direct control of retention funds to speed up community improvements. Her comments highlight how the absence of these funds impacts daily life across Harare neighborhoods. The lack of local funding creates delays in addressing problems that affect residents every day.
Ward 16 representative Denford Ngadziore raised additional concerns during the meeting. He introduced a motion against providing free parking privileges for Members of Parliament. Ngadziore argued that regular citizens from city communities deserve these benefits more than lawmakers. He also spoke against plans to offer motorcycle loans to council members. Ngadziore stated clearly that both proposals fail to address the real needs facing Harare residents.
