Commission uncovers massive corruption in HCC
The commission of inquiry into operations at the Harare City Council (HCC) has unveiled significant corruption and mismanagement within the council, revealing that councillors and managers have been regularly attending workshops outside the capital for years.
This revelation emerged during a session with council public works director Zvenyika Isaiah Chawatama, who appeared before the Justice Maphios Cheda-led commission.
In questioning from Commissioner Thabani Mpofu, Chawatama was confronted with evidence that councillors and managers had been frequently conducting workshops in cities such as Kadoma, Victoria Falls, Kariba, and Mutare. Mpofu highlighted that these workshops occurred weekly, despite the city’s declining service delivery and ongoing financial challenges.
Chawatama corroborated the commission’s findings, admitting that since joining the council in May of the previous year, he had observed that the workshops were indeed held regularly outside Harare.
He criticized the practice, suggesting that it was driven more by a desire for allowances rather than genuine efforts to improve council operations. “Workshops are driven by the human resources department and managers, and councillors are driven by the need for allowances and this is a misplaced priority,” Chawatama stated.
The council’s financial health has been a concern, with Chawatama noting that revenue collection has been poor. He emphasized the need for improved performance and greater efforts to encourage ratepayers to fulfill their financial obligations.
The commission, appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in May, includes retired Judge Justice Cheda, former MDC senior official Lucia Matibenga, Steven Chakaipa, Tafadzwa Hungwe, and Khonzani Ncube, a Local Government ministry official. John Basera, the permanent secretary for the Local Government and Public Works ministry, serves as the commission’s secretary.
The commission’s mandate is broad, focusing on investigating the HCC’s financial management systems, ensuring compliance with the Public Finance Management Act, and scrutinizing the management of revenue generated through special vehicle companies and outsourced arrangements. Additionally, the inquiry aims to assess the reasons behind the failure to implement an enterprise resource planning system and to quantify any financial losses incurred as a result.
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