Corruption, cartels rock Harare

KUDAKWASHE CHIBVURI

Councillors in Harare are in the eye of a storm after making hefty demands for land in leafy suburbs of the capital Harare in what observers view as a deliberate scheme of self-aggrandisement, Business Times has learnt.

The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led local authority is already underfire over land theft that has seen many in the dock while others are under investigation from anti-corruption hawks.

The councillors, in a bid to avoid being caught , ended up transferring and reassigning Dr. Funny Machipisa, then the Deputy Director of Human Services in the Department of Housing and Community Services. This forced transfer was an attempt to bury misconduct allegations by “punishing” Dr. Machipisa for implementing a directive from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works on the allocation of stands to councillors.

According to Dr. Funny Machipisa, “the plot to remove me from the position was hatched at the Human Resources and General Purposes Committee meeting” wrote Machipisa.

The committee moved Dr. Machipisa to the Department of Excellence, whose purpose was “unclear,” with the “objective to ‘normalise operations’ and potentially appoint someone more aligned with their preferences on the allocation of stands” He said.

The Human Resources and General Purposes Committee’s chairperson, Councillor George Mujajati, confirmed the plans, stating that Dr. Machipisa is “not the only one being moved to the Department of Excellence” and that this is “meant to enhance governance operations within the city council”

Councillors stand accused of disregarding proper systems and procedures by the Harare City Council in allocation of stands with many demanding them in leafy suburbs including Borrowdale, Mt Pleasant among others.

The law, however, dictates that the councillors get land from their respective Wards.

A senior official (name withheld) claims he has been subjected to victimization by sticking to the law and ensuring dictates of the statutes are followed.

“As I worked in processing reports for the allocation of 2,224 residential stands, I informed 59 Councillors that they were going to be allocated residential stands within their respective Wards. This didn’t go well with them because they wanted stands in Borrowdale, Highlands and Greendale,” the official stated in documents gleaned by the Business Times.

“I am the focal person on housing matters in the department, and their plan to remove me from the office is to avoid my submission of information to the commission of inquiry which is currently investigating the city of Harare on various issues,” Machipisa added.

 He has also written to the ministry of Local Government calling for a full forensic audit of the council’s operations.

 “It’s clear that corruption has become entrenched, and we need a thorough investigation to root it out,” he added.

He called for accountability and transparency in the city adding without such, Harare residents will continue to suffer consequences of graft and mismanagement.

“The Urban Council Act 29:15 provides clear guidelines on how the council is to be run, but these have been systematically ignored.”

He also accused the Human Resources committee of council for overreaching its mandate a move he says was fertile ground for corruption.

“A key issue is the overreach of the Human Resources (HR) committee, which has taken on responsibilities that fall outside of its mandate,” he said.

“The HR committee has been meddling in the affairs of the Audit Committee, presiding over matters that are not under their purview.”

“This has created a fertile ground for corruption,” he wrote to the ministry of Local Government and also to the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government Supa Mandiwanzira in July.

The opposition-led councilors who are at the heart of the corrupt scandals in the city have disregarded proper systems and procedures of the Harare City Council, which has shown a lack of accountability and transparency in the city. The HR committee has been meddling in the affairs of the Audit Committee, presiding over matters that are not under their purview. Harare Mayor Councilor Jacob Mafume also unilaterally reshuffled the composition of council committees.

“Cartels and cabals have been used to settle scores against both councillors and officials,” he lamented.

Machipisa has been in council for over 33 years working in the housing administration where he performed duties such as managing 27 District Offices.

In what is viewed as a clear abuse of office by some councillors, he was deployed to a non-existent department in the city of Harare structures as head of academic programmes.

President Emerson Mnangagwa instilled the commission of inquiry to investigate the high corruption scandals in the city of Harare, which have compromised service delivery. The commission of inquiry is being led by Justice Cheda.