Harare council moves to fill key posts

Harare City Council has begun a restructuring and recruitment drive aimed at filling long-standing vacancies in its senior management structure, in what officials say is part of efforts to improve service delivery and restore public confidence in the municipality.

Mayor Jacob Mafume said the exercise is intended to strengthen Town House's administrative capacity and stabilise leadership roles that have often been occupied in an acting capacity.

As part of the changes, Warren Sean Chiwawa has assumed the role of acting town clerk for the first time, following his appointment as chamber secretary. His elevation places him at the centre of council operations under the Urban Councils Act, during a period when the city is seeking to reform its governance systems.

To maintain continuity in key departments, council has also made interim appointments within its legal division. Senior legal officer Ernest Mushava will serve as acting chamber secretary, while Alice Zeure will act as legal manager during the transition.

Mafume said council is confident in Chiwawa's leadership and legal background, describing the restructuring as necessary to inject "new energy" into the institution. He also noted that efforts to appoint a permanent human capital director are at an advanced stage, though filling the financial director post remains a challenge due to limited interest from qualified candidates.

However, the restructuring has drawn mixed reactions from residents' groups, who argue that the process must prioritise competence, transparency, and accountability rather than being driven by internal preferences or informal arrangements.

The Harare Residents Trust warned that appointments in strategic positions must not be influenced by patronage networks, saying such outcomes could undermine governance and transparency within the council.

Similarly, the Combined Harare Residents Association called for open and competitive recruitment processes, including public advertisement of vacancies, to ensure that qualified professionals are appointed and that reliance on acting positions is reduced.

Residents groups say prolonged acting appointments weaken institutional continuity and decision-making, and have urged council to fast-track permanent appointments through transparent procedures.

The restructuring exercise is expected to continue as Harare seeks to address administrative bottlenecks and improve the delivery of basic services to residents.