Harare contracts spark public backlash

Residents in Harare have dismissed the signing of performance contracts by senior city officials as ineffective, arguing the move fails to address deep-rooted service delivery challenges at Town House.

The contracts were signed last week during a ceremony attended by top management and councillors, including acting town clerk Phakamile Mabhena Moyo. However, residents say the exercise amounts to little more than a public relations gesture.

The Harare Residents Trust (HRT) criticised the initiative, saying most senior officials do not deserve renewed contracts given the city's declining service delivery standards.

HRT director Precious Shumba said only one department — health — had shown meaningful performance under its leadership.

"Only a single department is doing well under the leadership of Prosper Chonzi, the city's director of health, who has professional workers willing to work under difficult situations," Shumba said.

He accused other departments of incompetence and poor accountability, alleging that some officials act with impunity.

"No one deserves a second chance; they are friends with councillor Jacob Mafume and were recruited on patronage," he said.

Shumba singled out the water department — which also oversees waste management and infrastructure maintenance — for unprofessional conduct and poor responsiveness to residents' concerns.

He also raised concerns over the housing and planning departments, alleging disorder and links to land barons, which he said have contributed to chaotic urban development in the capital.

"In the housing department, some officials are running parallel programmes and working closely with land barons," he said. "There is a lot of chaos… and we wonder why these people continue to be rewarded."

However, Mafume dismissed the allegations, defending both the recruitment process and the current management team. He said most senior officials were appointed before his tenure and undergo strict vetting procedures.

"Our recruitment policy is based on a rigorous process which includes interviews at council and government levels, security vetting and verification of qualifications," Mafume said.

"A city council alone cannot install senior management and most of the workers have been at work for years before we came through."

Despite the defence, residents maintain that the introduction of performance contracts will have little impact unless accompanied by accountability and tangible improvements in service delivery.