Harare councillors clash over spending priorities

Zim Now Writer

Harare City councillors are at odds over the city’s spending priorities, with independent councillors Denford Ngadziore and Kudzai Kadzombe challenging the Citizens Coalition for Change-led council’s proposal to establish a new sports committee and appoint new officials.

Ngadziore and Kadzombe argued that the additional committee and officials would strain the City’s budget, which they believe should be directed towards improving essential services like water supply and refuse removal. They also criticised the proposed sports committee, expressing concerns that it would further drain city finances and hinder service delivery efforts.

This comes after Harare City councillors faced public backlash last year for spending a significant amount of money on an induction workshop and failing to address critical issues like water and sanitation, which have been linked to the recent cholera outbreak.

During Thursday’s council meeting, Kadzombe reportedly revealed a “plot” to purchase a mayoral vehicle exceeding US$200 000, further escalating tensions. Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume denied these allegations and proposed using virtual platforms for future council inductions to save costs.

The clash between councillors highlights the ongoing struggle to balance the City’s need for improved services with its financial constraints. Residents are likely to continue scrutinising the council’s spending decisions and advocating for their priorities to be addressed.