By Correspondent
The Harare Commission of Inquiry completed its nine-month exercise on Tuesday, concluding by revealing how Council officials abused over US$1 million.
The commission, set-up in May 2024, has over the past months revealed a string of shocking financial abuses at Town House.
Responding to questions, Mayor Mafume revealed that Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango and executives inexplicably bought each other the latest vehicles.
The management took advantage of the brief period when Council was dissolved pending elections to quickly buy themselves the vehicles.
“Last year City Parking brought to the City Council about a million.
“When we started asking where that US$1 million went that is where the problem began.
“I am told that the US$1 million was used to purchase executive cars or Fortuners and so forth,” said Mafume.
Massive Profligacy
Evidence leader for the Commission Thabani Mpofu, also revealed that executives spend US$125,000 per year on holidays.
The Town Clerk is entitled to one international trip per year, while other executives are entitled to a regional trip.
The executives, like the Assistant to the Town Clerk Matthew Marara receive US$9 000 a year for local holidays.
The calculations are US$3 000 for each local holiday and they get three per year.
Executives also get US$6 000 for regional holidays.
For the 30 months that he was suspended Marara allegedly received US$27 000 in holiday allowances.
Besides the holidays all Grade Two employees, mostly Directors, are entitled to receive over US$3 000 for newspaper allowances.
They are also given fuel allowance which is around 450 per month.
At a time Council is struggling to provide services such as clean water and refuse collection the figures have raised a lot of anger.
“I am actually shocked at the figures and the information.
“They come at a time when we, as Councillors, are being asked and everybody is being asked to tighten their belts.
“Others are loosening,” Mafume said.
Having collected all the information the Maphios Cheda-led Commission will now compile its report.
The final document with recommendations will then be presented to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
