By Pieter Ziegler
In 2020 Retired Major Matthew Marara, the housing director of Harare City Council, was suspended.
He was accused of corruption relating to residential stands.
Marara was suspended with other HCC officials, including Edgar Dzehonye and Tonderai Mukora from the Survey Section.
For the next three years Marara remained on suspension without pay.
Alternative Reality
However, there is another alternative version of events.
It alleges that Marara quickly resigned when he was suspended.
Sources allege that he sent the resignation through email.
Media reports also corroborate that Marara resigned after being implicated in the illegal sale of 150 stands in Kuwadzana.
Council was prejudiced of about US$1,1 million before Marara announced his resignation from the council.
This was so as to protect financial benefits which could be lost if he was fired.
However, that position appears never to have become official.
What is supported is that 3 years later Marara returned back to work to claim nearly US$330 000 as compensation.
Deputy Town Clerk
And he got it, together with a new position as “Deputy Town Clerk”.
Then Harare deputy mayor Kudzai Kadzombe confirmed the development.
“Unlike other managers, he was on suspension for almost three years without his dues.
“When he returned to work his dues were calculated, but, I am not aware of the amount (he was paid).
To put the icing on the cake in May 2024 Marara was acquitted of another charge.
Harare regional magistrate Mr Taurai Manuwere acquitted Marara, who was being charged together with Aaron Tayerera, on criminal abuse of office charges.
The two were being accused of corruptly allocating residential stands to homeseekers.
In his ruling, Mr Manuwere said the State failed to prove that the accused persons abused their offices.
She added that their actions were in accordance with a full council resolution.
Shorn of the shackles of criminal issues Marara returned in full gear to take up his new position.
Not many in Council understand the position because it has not existed prior to Marara occupying it.
A Harare Residents Trust report recently pointed out the discrepancy about Marara’s new position.
It alleges that Marara created the non-existent position of Executive Assistant, Grade 2.
This, effectively makes him the Deputy Town Clerk.
“Marara recently created the position of Executive Assistant, Grade 2, using the guise of a job evaluation.
“(He has made) himself the Deputy Town Clerk, a non-existent position in the whole structure of local authorities in Zimbabwe.
A Cartel Within Council
Clothed with his new powers Marara has been accused of colluding with some Cllrs to stifle any dissent.
“Councillors in the Human Resources and General Purposes Committee led by their Chairperson George Mujajati are working closely with Retired Major Matthew Marara, the Acting Human Capital Director, who is himself implicated in land corruption to remove officials who know more about the corrupt tender, land allocations and other legal contracts which the Commission of Inquiry is specifically investigating,” the report says.
“Marara has become the defacto Town Clerk, acting with impunity, but propelled by very corrupt councillors who are immensely benefitting from what he is offering them in terms of accepting their demands while they in turn make his agenda pass the council committee processes.
According to the HRT there is so much corruption, “driven by officials representing other interests and councillors”.
As more and more details about Council spill out at the Commission Hearing, its becoming clear Harare is a crime scene.
For Marara these scandals are not a new thing.
In 2020 he was part of Harare City Football Club officials accused of swindling Council funds through sport.
With Council having splashed over US$10 million on the club over 5 years there was suspicion that councillors and executives personally benefited from hefty allowances.
These they received when the team was involved in football matches.
Marara, who was the Secretary General, later resigned.
And yet returned after 3 years as if from suspension!
With this new scandal it remains to be seen what the retired soldier does.
