Panic grips Harare City Council bosses

Panic has swept through Harare City Council as senior executives scramble to safeguard their positions following the release of a scathing commission of inquiry report into the municipality's operations. The commission, appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and led by retired High Court judge Justice Maphios Cheda, revealed widespread corruption and mismanagement implicating senior officials and some councillors.

Among the report's explosive findings, the town clerk was reportedly earning a staggering US$27,000 per month, potentially rising to US$30,000 with perks, while the lowest-paid executive earned US$15,000 monthly despite glaringly poor service delivery across the city. It was also revealed that city directors - who allegedly did not have payslips - spent US$124,000 on luxury foreign trips and nearly US$1 million on top-of-the-range vehicles during the election period. These lavish expenditures, the report noted, were not approved by the Local Government Board.

Justice Cheda confirmed to the media that the report detailed serious concerns over the conduct of certain senior Harare City Council (HCC) officials as he presented the findings to President Mnangagwa. "The findings of this commission point towards necessary leadership renewal at Harare City Council," said a local government official familiar with the process.

Inside the council, sources revealed a climate of fear, with some managers—exposed for corruption—desperately seeking supernatural intervention to survive the imminent shake-up. The mood is tense as uncertainty looms over the future of many top officials.

Reuben Akilli, director of the Combined Harare Residents Association, called for decisive action. "Heads must roll at the municipality as residents are bearing the brunt of maladministration and corruption," he said. Akilli urged the President to prioritise local government reform in the legislative agenda of the upcoming Parliament, pointing out that the commission's findings reflect systemic failures. He stressed the need for dismissals to follow constitutional and labour law provisions and expressed hope that the report's recommendations would strengthen local governance.

Similarly, Precious Shumba, coordinator of Harare Residents Trust, demanded sweeping changes at the City of Harare. "Top managers at Grade Three levels must be removed to make way for professional junior staff who can help clean up the city," she stated. Shumba highlighted that many strategic director positions have been vacant, severely affecting council operations. "We expect comprehensive reforms in governance and that all those implicated in corruption, whether councillors or managers, should be shown the exit door," she added.

Harare City Council officials have remained silent about the report, reportedly awaiting directives from President Mnangagwa before commenting.

During the report presentation, Justice Cheda acknowledged Mayor Jacob Mafume's efforts to combat corruption within the council, describing him as a "lone wolf" in the fight against graft. President Mnangagwa recently praised Mafume and pledged that he would remain in his position indefinitely.

Meanwhile, Harare continues to face a severe service delivery crisis. Cholera has become endemic amid ongoing water supply and sanitation failures. Frequent sewer blockages are causing raw sewage to spill into streets and contaminate water sources, worsening public health risks and highlighting the urgent need for reform in the city's governance.