HARARE – Three months after receiving the Commission of Inquiry Report into the operations of the Harare City Council, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has yet to make its contents public, sparking concerns over the government’s resolve to tackle entrenched corruption at Town House.
The report, compiled by retired Judge Maphios Cheda and submitted in June 2025, followed over a year of investigations into allegations of mismanagement, poor service delivery, and financial misconduct within the local authority.
Despite hopes that the findings would restore accountability and improve governance, the government’s continued silence has heightened fears that corruption will persist under the Jacob Mafume-led council.
Mafume is connected to President Mnangagwa through family ties with Chief Fortune Charumbira, a close relative of the President. Chief Charumbira’s wife, Priscillah Charumbira — who serves as Harare City Council’s Director of Town Planning — is the sister of Mafume’s late mother. This lineage effectively makes Mafume a relative of the President himself.
The Commission reportedly unearthed evidence of serious mismanagement, with senior officials prioritising personal benefits such as inflated salaries and allowances over critical services like water provision, waste management, and infrastructure maintenance. Councillors and officials were also accused of colluding to illegally allocate land across the capital.
Council-owned entities such as Harare Quarry, City Parking, and Rufaro Marketing were cited as centres of corruption, allegedly used to divert public funds for private gain.
Observers suggest the unreleased report could contain damning findings that may implicate top officials, which could explain the delay in publication.
Source – NewZimbabwe
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