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Marara swept out of Harare city council after a disciplinary hearing
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The Harare City Council (HCC) has dismissed senior manager Mathew Marara after a disciplinary hearing found him guilty of multiple counts of gross misconduct, including illegally promoting himself and being absent from work without authorisation.
Marara, who previously served as executive assistant to the town clerk and at one point acted as director of housing and social development, had been under investigation for alleged financial irregularities and management lapses at Town House.
In a letter dated March 11, 2026, signed by acting town clerk Phakamile Mabhena, council confirmed that Marara's dismissal is effective from November 24, 2025 — the date he was placed on suspension without pay.
The termination was carried out in terms of Statutory Instrument 15 of 2006 following a disciplinary hearing chaired by independent chairperson C.W. Gumiro, which found Marara guilty on four counts of misconduct.
Among the charges, Marara was found to have given incorrect advice to a council committee regarding the legal requirement to seek approval from the Local Government Board of Zimbabwe for senior appointments.
Investigations also revealed that he orchestrated unauthorised promotions involving three senior employees, including himself, resulting in illegal financial benefits totalling ZiG 4,111,168.88 and US$18,362.05.
The disciplinary panel further ruled that Marara bypassed established procedures by submitting executive salary review reports to an employment council that had no jurisdiction over senior management positions.
He was also found guilty of absenteeism after failing to report for duty for more than five days without permission or a valid explanation, having stopped reporting for work in early November 2024.
During the disciplinary proceedings, Marara was represented by Lunga Mazikana Attorneys. Council said it will process and release his terminal benefits in accordance with labour regulations.
Marara's dismissal follows revelations from a January 2025 commission of inquiry which found that he had continued to receive a monthly salary of US$12,000 while on suspension for nearly three years.
During that period, he reportedly also received additional benefits, including US$8,000 for electronic gadgets and US$3,256 for newspaper subscriptions.
Marara was initially suspended in 2020 together with other senior officials while serving as the city's housing director as part of investigations into alleged governance irregularities within the council.
Marara, who previously served as executive assistant to the town clerk and at one point acted as director of housing and social development, had been under investigation for alleged financial irregularities and management lapses at Town House.
In a letter dated March 11, 2026, signed by acting town clerk Phakamile Mabhena, council confirmed that Marara's dismissal is effective from November 24, 2025 — the date he was placed on suspension without pay.
The termination was carried out in terms of Statutory Instrument 15 of 2006 following a disciplinary hearing chaired by independent chairperson C.W. Gumiro, which found Marara guilty on four counts of misconduct.
Among the charges, Marara was found to have given incorrect advice to a council committee regarding the legal requirement to seek approval from the Local Government Board of Zimbabwe for senior appointments.
Investigations also revealed that he orchestrated unauthorised promotions involving three senior employees, including himself, resulting in illegal financial benefits totalling ZiG 4,111,168.88 and US$18,362.05.
The disciplinary panel further ruled that Marara bypassed established procedures by submitting executive salary review reports to an employment council that had no jurisdiction over senior management positions.
He was also found guilty of absenteeism after failing to report for duty for more than five days without permission or a valid explanation, having stopped reporting for work in early November 2024.
During the disciplinary proceedings, Marara was represented by Lunga Mazikana Attorneys. Council said it will process and release his terminal benefits in accordance with labour regulations.
Marara's dismissal follows revelations from a January 2025 commission of inquiry which found that he had continued to receive a monthly salary of US$12,000 while on suspension for nearly three years.
During that period, he reportedly also received additional benefits, including US$8,000 for electronic gadgets and US$3,256 for newspaper subscriptions.
Marara was initially suspended in 2020 together with other senior officials while serving as the city's housing director as part of investigations into alleged governance irregularities within the council.
Source - The Standard
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