Harare City Council's Bloated Workforce Cripples S...

Harare City Council's Bloated Workforce Cripples Service Delivery

Philemon Jambaya

Zim Now Editor

Harare City Council is facing a severe financial crisis, largely attributed to an excessively bloated workforce exceeding 10,000 employees. This excessive workforce, plagued by numerous duplicate roles, is hindering the municipality's ability to deliver essential services to residents and effectively utilize taxpayer funds.

This alarming revelation emerged during the ongoing Commission of Inquiry probing the operations of HCC from 2017 to the present. The inquiry, chaired by retired Justice Maphios Cheda, has highlighted the exorbitant salary costs that consume a significant portion of the municipality's revenue, leaving little room for crucial service delivery initiatives.

Paradoxically, despite employing over 700 individuals in its finance department, HCC's financial system remains in disarray. This raises serious concerns about the effectiveness and efficiency of the municipality's administrative structure.

Mathew Marara, Executive Assistant to the Town Clerk, acknowledged before the Commission that the current workforce is indeed excessive. "Even 300 is bloated," he stated, emphasizing the unsustainable level of salary expenditure, which surpasses government-prescribed limits.

The situation is further compounded by allegations of rampant nepotism and political interference in recruitment processes. City Council officials and councillors are accused of influencing recruitment decisions, leading to the inflation of the wage bill and compromising merit-based hiring practices.This financial crisis has severe consequences for residents. While HCC struggles to maintain basic services, such as refuse collection, water supply, and road maintenance, senior officials enjoy extravagant salaries. For instance, the Town Clerk's assistant reportedly receives a monthly salary of US$12,000, while the council struggles to procure essential items like employee uniforms.

The inquiry into HCC's operations is expected to shed light on the extent of mismanagement and corruption within the municipality. The findings of this investigation will be crucial in determining the path forward for HCC and ensuring that taxpayer funds are utilized effectively and transparently to improve the quality of life for Harare residents.