Staff Reporter
The ongoing Commission of Inquiry into the governance of the Harare City Council (HCC) has laid bare a deeply entrenched culture of corruption and administrative dysfunction, crippling the council's ability to deliver essential services to residents.
The inquiry has revealed a staggering lack of proper accounting systems, further exposing the council's vulnerability to financial mismanagement.
Harare Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango, who is currently remanded in custody over a US$9 million streetlights scandal, testified before the commission on Monday to address allegations of corruption.
During his testimony, Chisango admitted that the council has operated without a consolidated accounting system for decades, a situation he claimed to have inherited.
“This is a legacy issue. When I joined the Harare City Council in 1995, these problems were already present. We do not have a proper accounting system because there were none in place when I joined the organization,” Chisango confessed, further deepening concerns over the council's governance.
Chisango’s admission is just one piece of a broader picture of dysfunction and corruption within the HCC. Numerous witnesses have come forward during the inquiry, providing damning evidence of widespread corruption and incompetence within the council.
Director of the Housing Trust, Precious Shumba, accused the HCC of attempting to shield individuals involved in corrupt land deals by reassigning them during the inquiry.
"It has come to our attention that as the commission is ongoing, there were efforts by the Harare City Council to remove people from their positions in a bid to protect their interests. In our view, this movement was aimed at covering up their involvement in questionable land deals and shielding them from being implicated," Shumba testified.
Chairperson of the Marlborough Industry Cooperative, Innocent Magaya, testified that stands were being allocated without proper council resolutions.
"The youths were instructed to occupy stands allocated by one councillor, Kudzai Kanzombe. We have a list of people who were evicted by the Harare City Council, and as I speak, the matter is before the courts. Twenty-one people are affected despite having paid their monthly subscriptions," Magaya revealed.
Political commentator, Patrick Mupiwa said that the exposure of such entrenched corruption within the Harare City Council highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of its operations.
“The findings of the inquiry have laid the groundwork for potential legal action and reforms aimed at restoring the council's ability to effectively serve the residents of Harare. As the commission continues its work, all eyes are on whether the inquiry will lead to tangible changes that address the deep-seated issues plaguing the HCC,” said Mupiwa.
These revelations have brought to light the extent of the dysfunction within the HCC, which has struggled with poor service delivery for years.
Residents have long complained about inadequate water supply, crumbling infrastructure, and uncollected refuse.
The commission’s findings confirm that these issues are not merely the result of poor management but are deeply rooted in systemic corruption and administrative incompetence.
As the inquiry progresses, residents and stakeholders are hopeful that the findings will lead to long-overdue accountability and significant reforms within the council.
