Harare City Council accused of massive abuse of resources

Harare City Council has been accused of massive abuse of resources amid concerns that is why it is failing to deliver services to the residents.

Harare Residents Trust said there was massive abuse of resources going on in Harare City Council

"There is a serious matter that needs to be addressed in the City of Harare. The Julius Nyerere parking parkade has 498 parking bays while the Samora Machel parkade has 900 parking bays,": said the trust. "The city of Harare has Crowne Plaza Monomotapa parking space, and on street parking. These revenue streams brought US$35 000 every month to the coffers of the Harare City Council, meaning every week of six days the council's coffers were US$210 000 richer, and multiply by the four weeks in a month it came to about US$840 000."

The trust said the City parkades are 100 % built by council resources, it is unjustified, unreasonable and cruel for the city managers to enter into some criminal arrangements, disguised as business units with organisations that have never invested in the council's parking infrastructure.

"The Harare City Council is gaining nothing from this business arrangement, because no money is coming into the coffers of the City of Harare, but council has lost the control of the parkades. Why are they conniving to strip the council of its assets and resources?" said the trust.

"The same looting of resources continues unabated at Caravan Park, now Mabvazuva Park, where local tourists routinely spent their money their but the money is not getting into council coffers. It is estimated that nearly US$2 million is being generated every month but is not helping the council in any way."

The trust said at Cleveland Dam, City Holdings, another business unit established under the Tendai Mahachi turn around strategies is pocketing all the money with the council getting nothing in return.

"People flock to the place, known as Haka Game Park for viewing and entertainment, spending huge amounts of money in the process. And still the council is struggling financially. The council is struggling to pay workers their monthly salaries, and they claim that they do not have money, yet have infrastructure that is generating huge amounts of money in revenue which continues to flow into the pockets of a few council officials conniving with some local businessmen," said the trust.

"That is wrong, and should be stopped."