Mnangagwa orders arrest of culprits

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed deep concern over the increasing corruption within local councils across Zimbabwe, calling for the arrest and prosecution of all officials involved in graft. His remarks come amid a series of high-profile corruption cases involving both urban and rural council officials.

The latest exposure of corruption includes an ongoing commission of inquiry into Harare City Council, led by Retired Justice Maphios Cheda, which has uncovered widespread malfeasance among council officials. One of the most notable cases involves former Harare Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango, who is out on bail after being charged with illegally awarding a street lights tender to Moses Mpofu's company. In addition, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has suspended Chisango pending further investigations into his misconduct.

Meanwhile, in Bulawayo, Deputy Mayor Edwin Ndlovu and Councillor Mpumelelo Moyo were arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) after allegedly demanding a bribe of US$20,000 from Chinese investors. The scandal has further highlighted the extent of corruption within Zimbabwe's local government institutions.

Local government officials are also facing allegations of collaborating with land barons to illegally parcel out land. These illicit practices have added to the public's growing frustration with corruption at the local level, which has undermined development and public trust.

Speaking at the All Councillors Indaba in Harare on Tuesday, President Mnangagwa ordered that all corrupt local government officials be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. He emphasized that no one - regardless of their position or influence - would be exempt from the consequences of corrupt actions.

"I am deeply concerned by the cases of corruption in the local government space and the entire society. Those perpetrating such acts must face the full wrath of our country's law. No one, including local authorities, will be spared. Let us root out this menace," Mnangagwa said.

The All Councillors Indaba, organized by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Local Government Association (ZILGA), brought together delegates from all 92 local and rural councils in the country. The gathering served as a platform for discussing strategies to combat corruption and improve governance at the local government level.

The President's call for swift action against corrupt officials signals a commitment to tackling corruption head-on, which has long been a major issue in Zimbabwe's political landscape. It remains to be seen how effective these measures will be in addressing the systemic corruption that continues to plague the country's councils.