Zimbabwe Municipal Authorities Struggle To Deliver Key Services

The quality of life for urban dwellers in Zimbabwe is rapidly deteriorating as newly appointed urban authorities battle to provide essential services, officials and civic activists say. The central government appointed a new Harare mayor and other officials last month to work with councilors of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change elected in March. Harare has not had an elected mayor since 2003, when opposition incumbent Elias Mudzuri was suspended from his functions by the government and a commission put in place. Chief Executive Officer Barnabas Mangodza of the Combined Harare Residents Association told Reporter Carole Gombakomba of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that the new municipal authorities have an uphill battle on their hands addressing critical water and power shortages along with a collapse in health care,... [read full story]