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Deep-rooted corruption at Harare City Council
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Harare City Council has for decades been run by unscrupulous individuals whose corrupt activities continue to cripple service delivery, a damning Commission of Inquiry report has revealed. The findings, presented to President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday by retired High Court judge Justice Maphios Cheda, paint a picture of widespread governance failure and entrenched corruption at Town House.
Addressing journalists after handing over the report at State House, Justice Cheda did not mince his words, describing the council's operations as "dirty" and still under the influence of corrupt elements.
"Let me say in conclusion, there were too many dirty hands in the cookie jar. Too many dirty hands in the cookie jar. They are still there," he said.
President Mnangagwa established the Commission in May 2023 in response to growing outcries from Harare residents about the collapse of basic municipal services, including water supply, refuse collection, and road maintenance. Justice Cheda said the Commission had provided a much-needed platform for residents to air their grievances, adding that the findings were based largely on the testimonies and evidence provided by the people of Harare.
"It is the ratepayers and residents of Harare who wanted to say something. We provided them with a forum. We have compiled the report and we are comfortable with it," he said.
Justice Cheda commended the President's decision to launch the inquiry, describing it as consistent with his pledge to be a listening leader. He confirmed that the report was now in the President's hands and that the Commission had fulfilled its mandate.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, who also addressed the media, said the rot uncovered in Harare City Council was reflective of a much broader problem across Zimbabwe's urban councils. He said more commissions of inquiry would likely be set up to investigate mismanagement in other cities, with Bulawayo also cited as a council of concern.
"This Commission is borne out of the decay in our local authorities, the way they are being run. Harare City Council being number one and Bulawayo City Council being number two. Going forward, we have made recommendations that we need to have a thorough investigation of all our urban local authorities because there is a lot of decay," he said.
Minister Garwe added that President Mnangagwa would study the report before announcing the next steps. However, he expressed satisfaction that the Commission had completed its work and delivered its findings.
The Commission's investigation uncovered numerous instances of gross misconduct and financial abuse. These included the unlawful allocation of over 5,000 housing stands ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections and the illegal regularisation of 350 housing cooperatives. The town clerk, Engineer Hosiah Chisango, was found to be earning up to US$30,000 a month, inclusive of perks, while the lowest-paid executive earned US$15,000 - all without approval from the Local Government Board.
Further investigations revealed that senior city directors had no payslips and had spent US$124,000 on luxury foreign trips. The Commission also exposed a US$1 million splurge on luxury vehicles during the election period, the unexplained disappearance of US$105 million, and annual losses of US$70 million due to poor internal controls. A US$4.5 million loan facility extended to Harare Quarry also went missing.
In addition to financial irregularities, the Commission found that 100 head of cattle were being stolen monthly and that 60,000 houses within Harare were not being billed for services.
The Commission, established under Section 2(1) of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, held public hearings and invited a broad range of stakeholders, including current and former council officials. Its members included local governance expert Steven Chakaipa, Mr Norbert Phiri (later replaced by Mr Tafadzwa Charles Hungwe), Ms Lucia Gladys Matibenga, and Ms Khonzani Ncube. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Dr John Basera, served as secretary to the Commission.
As Harare's residents await the President's response to the report, the findings have confirmed long-held suspicions of institutional decay and malpractice within one of Zimbabwe's most important local authorities.
Addressing journalists after handing over the report at State House, Justice Cheda did not mince his words, describing the council's operations as "dirty" and still under the influence of corrupt elements.
"Let me say in conclusion, there were too many dirty hands in the cookie jar. Too many dirty hands in the cookie jar. They are still there," he said.
President Mnangagwa established the Commission in May 2023 in response to growing outcries from Harare residents about the collapse of basic municipal services, including water supply, refuse collection, and road maintenance. Justice Cheda said the Commission had provided a much-needed platform for residents to air their grievances, adding that the findings were based largely on the testimonies and evidence provided by the people of Harare.
"It is the ratepayers and residents of Harare who wanted to say something. We provided them with a forum. We have compiled the report and we are comfortable with it," he said.
Justice Cheda commended the President's decision to launch the inquiry, describing it as consistent with his pledge to be a listening leader. He confirmed that the report was now in the President's hands and that the Commission had fulfilled its mandate.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, who also addressed the media, said the rot uncovered in Harare City Council was reflective of a much broader problem across Zimbabwe's urban councils. He said more commissions of inquiry would likely be set up to investigate mismanagement in other cities, with Bulawayo also cited as a council of concern.
"This Commission is borne out of the decay in our local authorities, the way they are being run. Harare City Council being number one and Bulawayo City Council being number two. Going forward, we have made recommendations that we need to have a thorough investigation of all our urban local authorities because there is a lot of decay," he said.
Minister Garwe added that President Mnangagwa would study the report before announcing the next steps. However, he expressed satisfaction that the Commission had completed its work and delivered its findings.
The Commission's investigation uncovered numerous instances of gross misconduct and financial abuse. These included the unlawful allocation of over 5,000 housing stands ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections and the illegal regularisation of 350 housing cooperatives. The town clerk, Engineer Hosiah Chisango, was found to be earning up to US$30,000 a month, inclusive of perks, while the lowest-paid executive earned US$15,000 - all without approval from the Local Government Board.
Further investigations revealed that senior city directors had no payslips and had spent US$124,000 on luxury foreign trips. The Commission also exposed a US$1 million splurge on luxury vehicles during the election period, the unexplained disappearance of US$105 million, and annual losses of US$70 million due to poor internal controls. A US$4.5 million loan facility extended to Harare Quarry also went missing.
In addition to financial irregularities, the Commission found that 100 head of cattle were being stolen monthly and that 60,000 houses within Harare were not being billed for services.
The Commission, established under Section 2(1) of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, held public hearings and invited a broad range of stakeholders, including current and former council officials. Its members included local governance expert Steven Chakaipa, Mr Norbert Phiri (later replaced by Mr Tafadzwa Charles Hungwe), Ms Lucia Gladys Matibenga, and Ms Khonzani Ncube. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Dr John Basera, served as secretary to the Commission.
As Harare's residents await the President's response to the report, the findings have confirmed long-held suspicions of institutional decay and malpractice within one of Zimbabwe's most important local authorities.
Source - The Herald
