Political Reporter
The operations of the Harare City Council have been severely disrupted by escalating tensions between councillors and city officials, following a public spat between Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume and Town Clerk Engineer Hosea Chisango during a full council meeting last Tuesday.
The altercation, witnessed by several councillors, has exposed deep divisions within the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leadership, raising concerns over the effective management of the capital's affairs.
The incident occurred when Chisango, whom Mayor Mafume had previously suspended over allegations of corruption, arrived at the council chambers and took his usual seat next to the mayor.
Chisango’s suspension stemmed from accusations that he irregularly awarded a multi-million-dollar tender to a company linked to Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, who are currently incarcerated.
The company had been blacklisted, leading to suspicions of Chisango’s complicity in the scandal.
Mafume, visibly angered by Chisango’s presence, was seen arguing with him before the meeting descended into chaos.
Several councillors expressed concern over the disorder, with some questioning the presence of unfamiliar faces in key positions during the meeting.
Acting Town Clerk Phakamile Mabhena was eventually called to replace Chisango, but councillors were left unsettled by the lack of clarity regarding the leadership transition.
In addition, confusion arose over the whereabouts of Warren Chiwawa, the acting Chamber Secretary, who had been rumoured to be arrested but was later revealed to have been summoned to testify in a separate council matter.
Councillor Blessing Duma voiced his frustrations, demanding an explanation for the ongoing confusion.
“Today, we are facing unfamiliar faces. We demand clarity on the situation unfolding before us,” Duma said, a comment that further fuelled tensions.
Mayor Mafume fired back, referencing Duma’s testimony during the Commission of Inquiry into council corruption.
“You speak of order while pursuing a law degree, yet you misled the Commission of Inquiry about your occupation. How can you presume to instruct us on procedural matters?” Mafume retorted.
The altercation between Mafume and Duma highlighted long-standing tensions between the two, with Duma having previously accused the mayor of corruption in his testimony before the commission.
Duma himself is currently facing charges of fraud, with his case ongoing at the Harare Magistrates Court.
As the meeting progressed, councillors shifted their focus to pressing issues affecting Harare residents, including widespread fuel shortages that have crippled service delivery.
The councillors also debated the council’s controversial Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, with accusations of financial mismanagement and overspending on workshops dominating the discussion.
Mayor Mafume acknowledged the ERP system's inefficiencies and vowed to hold those responsible accountable, stating, “I will ensure that those responsible for the inefficiencies in our ERP system face consequences. We cannot continue to function without it.”
As tensions between councillors from different CCC factions continue to grow, the ability of the Harare City Council to effectively govern and deliver services to residents remains questionable.
The ongoing discord threatens to undermine efforts to address critical issues such as water shortages, sewage bursts, and overall infrastructure development.
