Toxic environment: Harare city council embroiled i...

Toxic environment: Harare city council embroiled in chaos and lawlessness

Zim Now Writer

A commission of inquiry set up to investigate the affairs of Harare City Council from 2017 to date has uncovered a web of chaos, lawlessness, and abuse of authority at Town House. The commission, chaired by retired judge Maphios Cheda, is tasked with investigating financial management systems, audit compliance, and financial management of revenue generated through special vehicle companies and other outsourced arrangements.

In a shocking revelation, the commission heard that the council's acting human capital director, Bozman Matengarufu, was poisoned twice at Town House. Matengarufu described the environment at the council as "toxic," where doing the right thing is met with penalty or ignorance.

The commission's evidence leader, Tabani Mpofu, highlighted that the council has been violating its own resolutions by allowing workers with pending court cases to report for duty. Matengarufu confirmed that no action has been taken against these individuals.

Furthermore, Mpofu revealed that several people have died of poisoning at the council, with Matengarufu acknowledging the incidents and stating that the council has yet to prove the causes of death. The perception, according to Matengarufu, is that some employees have been murdered through poisoning.

In another startling admission, suspended human capital director Mathew Marara confessed that his position was created illegally. Marara is accused of creating a Grade 1(b) position under a job evaluation exercise he was in charge of, without being interviewed. This position is equivalent to that of the town clerk and has seen Marara receiving luxurious benefits, including a top-of-the-range vehicle.