City of Harare Exposed as Councillors’ Feeding Manger Amidst Corruption Scandal
By Loyd Matare
Mayor of Harare, Jacob Mafume has revealed a shocking revelation of corruption at Town House, where a whopping US$4,5 million vanished into thin air from council coffers—with the case never having been investigated, raising questions about whether the cash was stolen or misused by the mayor and his acolytes.
The money, is said to have been allocated to Harare Quarry, a subsidiary of the HCC, in 2018 to revive its operations, was squandered without a traceable paper trail.
This comes as City of Harare has been marred with serious scandals of corruption with the mayor at the centre of the allegations.
Mafume’s testimony before the commission, led by retired Justice Maphios Cheda, laid bare the extent of the corruption.
“The money was stolen,” Mafume said bluntly, pointing fingers at the management of Harare Quarry. When questioned about the measures taken to investigate the missing funds, Mafume replied, “We resolved to get the Police involved… We were elected in 2018. The money was stolen, I am trying to think when the loan was advanced. I am not too sure.”
This scandal is merely the tip of the iceberg, as Harare Quarry has become a hub of corruption, with top officials allegedly exploiting it for personal gain.
The company has also failed to remit funds to the City Council, despite its premises being leased to private companies.
Mafume acknowledged the company’s financial burden on the Council, stating, “I am very passionate about that US$4 million… I have pursued it in different Council meetings. I have taken the actions within my power.”
The HCC chamber secretary, Warren Chiwawa, confirmed that the matter has been reported to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.
“I had discussions with the Business Development manager, who confirmed that we indeed made a report after the matter came up in one of the committee meetings,” said Chiwawa.
This corruption scandal has raised questions about the City of Harare’s governance and accountability.
Mafume’s testimony has laid bare the council’s inadequacies, and the question on everyone’s lips is: should the City of Harare council cease to exist?
