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Harare official fired to facilitate recruitment
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During a recent inquiry, serious allegations emerged against Harare councillors, claiming they fired the city's acting human capital director, Bozman Matengarufu, just ahead of the August 2023 elections. The inquiry, led by a commission appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, was tasked with investigating corruption and financial mismanagement at Town House.
The commission's evidence leader, Thabani Mpofu, revealed that Matengarufu was dismissed to facilitate the recruitment of party youths into the Harare Municipal Police (HMP). It was alleged that the aim was to ensure their support in the upcoming elections by rewarding them with positions in the city's police force.
Matengarufu testified that he only served as acting director until just before the elections, and that all recruitment processes followed standard procedures.
"Unfortunately, soon after elections, I was no longer the director. But I know the recruitment process of the Harare municipal police team as well as the general employees, which are the entry points for city council," he said.
He explained that the recruitment process began in early 2023 when he was still in office. The initial step involved receiving a request from the HMP head of department seeking new employees.
"From a human resources point of view, we verified the records to see whether they are real vacancies and whether there was a need to fill them or to have new recruits. Having ascertained that, we then wrote as a procedure to the Minister of Local Government for authority to recruit externally. The authority was then granted while I was still in office," Matengarufu explained.
The interviews and assessments were conducted to determine the fitness of the recruits before finalizing the process, which was subsequently taken over by retired major Matthew Marara, Matengarufu's successor.
When asked about the claims that his removal was politically motivated to aid recruitment for electoral gains, Matengarufu admitted it was plausible.
"What I remember is that I was an enemy of both the councillors and some members of my group. Well, it could be true. I cannot deny that, because that is why yesterday I was saying I was a victim," he said.
He further stated that clashes over recruitment procedures were intense, and one particular meeting ended with his suggestion that if councillors doubted his role, they could remove him. This, according to Matengarufu, might have been the reason for his subsequent dismissal.
The inquiry continues to delve into the claims of corruption and political manipulation at Town House, with Matengarufu's testimony shedding light on the complexities surrounding recruitment in Harare's local governance.
The commission's evidence leader, Thabani Mpofu, revealed that Matengarufu was dismissed to facilitate the recruitment of party youths into the Harare Municipal Police (HMP). It was alleged that the aim was to ensure their support in the upcoming elections by rewarding them with positions in the city's police force.
Matengarufu testified that he only served as acting director until just before the elections, and that all recruitment processes followed standard procedures.
"Unfortunately, soon after elections, I was no longer the director. But I know the recruitment process of the Harare municipal police team as well as the general employees, which are the entry points for city council," he said.
He explained that the recruitment process began in early 2023 when he was still in office. The initial step involved receiving a request from the HMP head of department seeking new employees.
"From a human resources point of view, we verified the records to see whether they are real vacancies and whether there was a need to fill them or to have new recruits. Having ascertained that, we then wrote as a procedure to the Minister of Local Government for authority to recruit externally. The authority was then granted while I was still in office," Matengarufu explained.
The interviews and assessments were conducted to determine the fitness of the recruits before finalizing the process, which was subsequently taken over by retired major Matthew Marara, Matengarufu's successor.
When asked about the claims that his removal was politically motivated to aid recruitment for electoral gains, Matengarufu admitted it was plausible.
"What I remember is that I was an enemy of both the councillors and some members of my group. Well, it could be true. I cannot deny that, because that is why yesterday I was saying I was a victim," he said.
He further stated that clashes over recruitment procedures were intense, and one particular meeting ended with his suggestion that if councillors doubted his role, they could remove him. This, according to Matengarufu, might have been the reason for his subsequent dismissal.
The inquiry continues to delve into the claims of corruption and political manipulation at Town House, with Matengarufu's testimony shedding light on the complexities surrounding recruitment in Harare's local governance.
Source - newsday
