Harare to introduce mandatory drug testing at work

Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume has criticised the quality of pavement rehabilitation works carried out by council employees in the city's Central Business District (CBD).

The workers recently undertook repairs along Nelson Mandela Avenue and First Street as part of efforts to improve pedestrian infrastructure and make the city centre safer and more accessible.

The council said the project was also intended to improve the appearance of the CBD and create a better environment for residents, pedestrians and businesses.

However, the workmanship has drawn criticism from members of the public, with some questioning the quality of the construction and calling on the mayor to visit cities such as Beijing, London and cities in the United States to see how pedestrian infrastructure is constructed and maintained.

Responding to the criticism, Mafume said the council would introduce mandatory drug testing for employees, suggesting that the poor standard of work could be linked to workers being under the influence of substances while on duty.

"We are going to introduce mandatory drug testing at work. This can only be the workmanship of intoxicated individuals, from the supervisor to the worker. We agree with the public on this one; we cannot be committed to ugliness and poor execution," Mafume wrote on X.

His comments come amid growing public scrutiny of the state of Harare's roads, pavements and other public infrastructure.

The mayor's admission signals pressure on the council to improve both the quality of municipal works and accountability among employees responsible for delivering them.