Harare Held Hostage as Corrupt Cartels Bleed the City Dry

By Loyd Matare

The City of Harare (CoH) has once again become the center of attention amid growing controversies, with concerns that it has turned into a battleground for corruption, where influential cartels and political elites are accused of manipulating public infrastructure for personal gain.

Insiders who spoke to AfroGazette news portray that Harare’s collapsing service delivery is not a result of mere inefficiency—it is a well-orchestrated scheme fueled by corruption, backdoor deals, and powerful cartels working in cahoots with city officials and state-linked businesses taking advantage of the rot so that they can swoop in as ‘rescuers’ and seize control of city functions.

This comes as CoH is embroiled in corruption scandals, mismanagement, and political interference from the central government.

One of the well-placed sources who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity, pointed to the controversial reconstruction of Mbare Musika as a prime example of this calculated takeover.

“The situation with the CoH is clear, the government is trying to dismantle the existing system and rebuild it with their own policies in place. Take, for example, the new Mbare Musika.

“From the way it was established, it’s evident they want full control over it. Before its construction, when vendors operated in the old musika, that space belonged to the council.

“…The government wanted ownership and control; they orchestrated the burning down of the old Mbare Musika. That fire wasn’t just a mysterious incident or due to the negligence of security guards—it was deliberate, paving the way for where we are now.

“Their main agenda is to make CoH appear as a failure in the eyes of residents so they can step in as ‘saviors’ and take over the system.

The insider further revealed that the market had historically influenced inflation trends, with traders rejecting certain currencies or adjusting exchange rates.

By taking control, the government aimed to eliminate that economic influence while securing a financial stronghold in one of Harare’s biggest trading hubs.

ALSO READ: Mafume Accused of Playing ‘Puppet’ Role as Govt Takes Control

“In the past, when the country experienced high inflation rates, Mbare Musika played a key role. Traders there had the power to wake up any day and declare certain denominations inflated, refusing to accept them.

“Essentially, due to its influence, Mbare Musika could determine currency fluctuations, contributing to inflation and then citizens will turn to government that it is failing to come up with a strong currency.

“To curb that control, the government destroyed the market to take charge and now here we are, they are touting ZiG as a success, highlighting that it has remained stable without inflation since its introduction a year ago, and this is because they managed to get rid of the market (Mbare),” he said.

The deliberate sabotage of city operations extends beyond markets.

Poor service delivery in waste management was used as a justification for outsourcing Harare’s waste collection to the controversial Geo Pomona Waste Management deal.

“CoH was labeled as failing, and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Geo Pomona. But we, as councillors, know this is just a scheme to loot money,” the source added.

To make matters worse, allegations have risen that the Mayor of Harare cllr Jacob Mafume is at the epicenter of it all, with allegations that he works closely with Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe to facilitate these agreements.

“During meetings, we are not allowed to debate these issues. The mayor introduces the deals like the recent privatisation of water, Geo Pomona deal and no one goes against because he says it government.

“There is no balance in CoH anymore, whatever he decides is final because it’s a government directive, and he benefits because he is aligned with the central government, not with residents.”

One of the most contentious deals currently under scrutiny is the lease agreement with Scottland FC for the refurbishment of Rufaro Stadium.

Ward 16 Councillor Denford Ngadziore raised concerns over the deal, questioning why Scottland FC was entrusted with the project despite its failure to develop Mabvuku Ground 1, which it was previously allocated.

“CoH is a public entity that operates through resolutions. Some of us (councillors), were against the recent partnership between CoH and Scottland, but ultimately, the decision was made just like in the case of the Chinese loan, which residents are now expected to repay.

“I was among those who opposed the decision, but in the end, it was a matter of majority rule, and a resolution was passed. In that sense, I can somewhat understand his perspective,” Ngadziore said.

On his part, Harare Residents Trust director Precious Shumba echoed these concerns, accusing bureaucrats of deliberately sabotaging city services to justify private takeovers.

“The City of Harare’s core functions are being crippled deliberately by bureaucrats collaborating with the government.

“Once service delivery fails, these bureaucrats draft official letters declaring incapacitation and inviting the government to intervene. This happened with the Environmental Management Agency, then with Geo Pomona Waste Management. The same playbook is being used across multiple sectors.”

Ngadziore echoed Shumba’s sentiments stating that CoH as a public entity should be prioritising residents’ needs.

“CoH, like the government, is a public entity that serves the interests of the people. Privatizing certain services would lead to their commercialization, making them unaffordable for many residents.

“Instead of privatizing almost everything, we should focus on improving service delivery to benefit the public,” he said.

Shumba further revealed that the Office of the President and Cabinet often fast-tracks ‘emergency’ declarations, enabling politically connected companies to win lucrative contracts without proper procurement procedures.

“Rufaro Stadium is just another front for looting, with money being funneled to fund the extravagant lifestyles of a few individuals. We will not rest until there is full transparency and accountability on this project.”

Residents and activists say the combination of Minister Daniel Garwe and Mayor Jacob Mafume has been disastrous for Harare, with councillors now sidelined as key city assets are forcefully privatized.

“Council debates have become a dictatorship. The mayor ensures only his views prevail, shutting down any opposition from councillors. This is not governance it’s organized looting,” said a source within CoH.