Staff Reporter

Harare Mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume, has landed himself in hot soup after a commission of inquiry exposed him for providing false information regarding his place of residence.

The dramatic revelation unfolded yesterday when the commission, led by Retired High Court Judge, Justice Maphios Cheda, conducted an inspection in loco at Stand Number 110 Coronation Road in Greendale, an address that Mafume had claimed as his residence.
To the commission’s surprise, the property actually belonged to a Mr. Pfukwa, casting doubt on the mayor’s credibility and raising concerns over his transparency. The investigation team had already suspected that Councillor Mafume may have misled the inquiry, prompting Justice Cheda to order an on-site verification of his claims.
Upon realising that the commission had uncovered his deception, Mafume quickly backtracked, claiming he had made an error regarding his address.
“Actually, I made a mistake, and when I called my wife, that is when she told me that it is 102 Coronation Road. I am ready to take the commission there. If we can go, you will actually see that there is a figure which is not visible,” he explained in an attempt to justify the so-called mix-up.
However, giving false information to a commission of inquiry is a serious offence, and Justice Cheda did not hesitate to caution him.
“After we carried out an inspection at Stand Number 110, which you claimed is where you stay, we have found out that you do not stay there, and you have given false information before the inquiry,” the judge stated.
The Harare City Council Commission of Inquiry was established by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to probe the city’s governance and operations since 2017. The investigation is scrutinising corruption allegations, service delivery failures, and financial mismanagement within the local authority.
With the inquiry set to continue today, Councillor Mafume is expected to reappear before the commission to clarify his misleading statement. The incident has sparked debate on social media, with residents questioning whether the mayor’s actions reflect deeper governance issues within the council.
As the investigation unfolds, more revelations could come to light, further shaping the narrative around Harare’s leadership and accountability in public office.