Commission finalises ‘explosive’ Harare report

KUDAKWASHE CHIBVURI

A major upheaval is imminent at Town House as the Commission of Inquiry appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa finalises its report into rampant corruption at the Harare City Council.

The report, described by insiders as “explosive,” is expected to be handed over to the President in the coming days, paving the way for mass suspensions, arrests, and a potential council overhaul.

The Commission, chaired by retired High Court judge Justice Maphios Cheda, was established in May 2024 under Proclamation 2 and gazetted as Statutory Instrument 91 of 2024. It was tasked with investigating governance, financial management, and service delivery failures by the City of Harare since 2017.

Sources close to the inquiry revealed that the long-awaited report details systemic graft involving councillors and senior officials linked to multi-million-dollar scandals that have crippled the city.

“It’s dusted and done—just waiting to be presented,” one source told Business Times.
“A lot of officials were red-flagged,” another insider said.

The investigation revealed a litany of corruption allegations centred on the absence of a robust enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, which has allowed criminal syndicates to exploit council finances, tender processes, and land deals.

Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe has already signalled that the consequences will be far-reaching.
“Heads will roll. The City of Harare is rotten to its core, and both officials and councillors are implicated,” he said.

Investigations show that councillors—many in acting capacities—have been manipulated by powerful officials and politically connected cartels, using city-owned entities as cash cows. The situation at Harare Quarry is especially dire.

A Business Times probe last year revealed that two firms operating under its banner have been diverting millions into ghost accounts, while the city receives no revenue.

Rufaro Marketing, once a flagship enterprise that funded social services, has also collapsed under the weight of looting and political interference. Sources say it is now a shell controlled by networks exploiting loopholes created by a dysfunctional billing system and weak oversight.

The Commission’s hearings uncovered chilling details of a toxic environment at Town House, where whistleblowers have faced death threats, poisoning, and intimidation.

Bosman Matengarufu, the Acting Human Capital Director, testified about a failed assassination attempt and multiple threats to his life after exposing corruption.

The council’s attempt to procure a $57m ERP system without following proper channels further underscores the extent of the dysfunction. The project was pursued in defiance of advice from both the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) and Treasury officials.

Internal sabotage is also rampant. Officials in acting roles are reportedly reluctant to initiate reforms or challenge fraudulent deals, fearing reprisals or the loss of political protection. This inertia, residents argue, is fuelling the continued rot.

“The issues highlighted by the Commission are not new. We’ve raised them for years, but nothing changed,” said Combined Harare Residents Association director Reuben Akili.
“Our expectation is that once this report lands on the President’s desk, there must be decisive action.”

Harare Residents Trust director Precious Shumba added: “There’s so much corruption that was unearthed. We want strong recommendations, we want officials prosecuted, and we want taxpayers’ money protected. The Strategic Business Unit and Rufaro Marketing must be cleaned up.”

During a recent full council meeting, the Harare Mayor expressed frustration at the city’s shambolic financial state.
“Council books are a source of embarrassment. Always ensure that your books are in order,” he said.

As the city braces for what could be its most significant political reckoning in years, attention now shifts to President Mnangagwa—whose response to the Commission’s findings may determine whether Harare finally escapes the grip of institutionalised corruption.