Mafume fingers wife

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has found himself at the center of controversy after a report surfaced implicating his family in the questionable construction of a luxury hostel in Belvedere. The project, intended to house over 60 students from the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT), has raised red flags regarding irregularities in planning and inspection procedures.

Mafume appeared before the Commission of Inquiry, led by retired High Court Judge Justice Maphios Cheda, to respond to concerns surrounding the construction of the hostel, which allegedly was built with kickbacks from South African firm Quill Associates—linked to Harare City Council's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project. The property is reported to have been developed without following standard council regulations on planning and inspection.

Presenting the commission with a detailed inspection report, Mafume claimed the property had undergone six inspection visits within a single month—some as close as three days apart—raising suspicion about the legitimacy of the process. However, the inspections appeared to have been documented with a single pen, further fueling concerns.

Tapiwa Fresh Godzi, leading the commission's evidence, questioned the speed of the inspections. "I wonder at what rate the builders are working. Inspection after inspection every three days. Is that reasonable?" he inquired. Mafume defended the frequency, claiming it was standard practice.

Justice Cheda pressed for clarity on the identity of the inspector. Mafume confessed that he had never met the individual in person, adding a layer of mystery to the inspections. When asked about the uniform signature on the reports, Mafume implicated his wife, revealing that she was overseeing the project. "I have not met the inspector personally. They visit the site where there is a contractor. This is being handled by my wife," Mafume said.

NewZimbabwe.com has learned that the City Council does not have any records of Mafume making payments for the six inspections he presented to the commission. Sources close to the matter claim that Mafume has no receipts to substantiate the payments, a requirement for each inspection stage by city officials.

"Payment is required for each inspection stage by city officials. Mafume made no payments and has no proof of payment for any of the inspections," a source revealed.

Additionally, Mafume admitted that he had failed to obtain council approval to change the property's zoning from residential to commercial, a necessary step for such renovations. The mayor acknowledged that no application had been submitted, and there were no committee meeting minutes to approve the renovations. "The change of use plan does not exist. That one is not there," Mafume stated, appearing uneasy during the testimony.

Such changes typically require a fee to be paid before construction begins, with building plans for projects like the hostel typically costing around US$3,000. Mafume has not provided proof of payment for this required fee, raising further questions about his adherence to council by-laws.

A source also revealed that Mafume may have used intermediaries to manage the hostel construction and the purchase of a mansion in Greendale, possibly to avoid direct involvement and scrutiny. The source believes this tactic was meant to sidestep investigation, but now, these "shady deals" have caught up with the mayor.

The unfolding controversy over Mafume's actions continues to draw attention to potential corruption within Harare's local government and raises serious questions about the mayor's role in overseeing city regulations. As the investigation progresses, further scrutiny is expected regarding the mayor's dealings, his connections with the construction project, and the alleged impropriety surrounding the approval process.