Mafume's dry jokes on service delivery anger residents

Harare mayor Jacob Mafume has come under fire from residents after allegedly trivialising concerns over service delivery and transparency with light-hearted remarks during a public accountability forum.

Mafume faced a barrage of questions on Tuesday during the opening day of the Transparency International Zimbabwe Integrity and Accountability Summit in Harare, where residents challenged city authorities over deteriorating service delivery, procurement processes and plans to introduce new public transport services.

The mayor, who attended the summit briefly before leaving for other engagements in Bulawayo, drew criticism after reflecting on his transition from civil society activist to public office, saying he had once been among the loudest critics of government before experiencing the realities of leadership.

"We have had a long history with TIZ. I was once a board member, and I have worked with them for many years, in and around Zimbabwe and on the continent.

"It's a very important role that you play, bringing us to account. It's painful when you are now on the other side. I used to scream when I was this side. 'These people are stealing. Why are they buying a car? Why is he staying in that house?' You know, you scream.

"Then you go there. Suddenly you find that the house is very important. The car is a very useful instrument of locomotion. Then you need to get into a plane to move from point A to point B. The first days you try travelling from Harare to Victoria Falls by road in an act of solidarity with TIZ. Then suddenly you start flying to Victoria Falls. So it's some of those things that bring change when you move."

His remarks were met with disapproval from some participants, who argued they appeared to justify the privileges enjoyed by public officials while residents continue to grapple with poor municipal services.

The meeting became more heated after Mafume announced that the City of Harare had reached an agreement with unnamed private investors to introduce 200 commuter buses to help address the city's transport challenges.

Residents demanded to know whether the project had been subjected to a public tender process, how the investors had been selected and why their identities had not been disclosed.

Responding to the concerns, Mafume said the buses would be provided by private companies rather than the city.

"I am not the one providing the buses. These are private entities and if you also want, you can purchase your own buses and come to us and, if you are regularised, you can also provide public transport services. I earn US$260 in salary and the suit that I am putting on my wife bought it for me."

The response further angered some attendees, who said the issue was not the mayor's personal circumstances but the need for transparency and accountability in public procurement and decision-making.

A representative of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, identified only as Vimbai, said it was disappointing that residents seeking answers on governance were met with humour instead.

"It is sad that residents are asking serious questions about service delivery and transparency, yet the mayor is responding jokingly," she said.

"If he is going to continue to participate in public conferences where people are actually trying to get confidence out of whatever is going on within the cities, and he responds in that way then we are doomed."

Participants said Harare's persistent water shortages, uncollected refuse, deteriorating road infrastructure and public transport challenges required clear explanations and greater transparency from the city's leadership rather than jokes, arguing that residents deserved meaningful accountability from elected officials.