President Extends Harare Council Probe to Allow Thorough Examination

In a recent directive, President Emmerson Mnangagwa extended the tenure of the Harare City Council (HCC) investigation team by an additional three months. The commission, originally set up to complete its probe by November, now has until February 2025 to wrap up its findings, with a final report expected by early May.

This inquiry commission, led by retired High Court judge Justice Maphios Cheda, includes notable members such as Lucia Matibenga, former MDC official, and Steven Chakaipa. The team’s objective is to scrutinize governance practices within the Harare City Council, assessing compliance with financial regulations, and overall transparency.

As published in Proclamation 5 of 2024 under Statutory Instrument 180, the extension grants the commission a total of nine months to investigate and compile its findings on issues impacting Harare’s governance.

The commission’s mandate encompasses assessing financial management systems and compliance with the Public Finance Management Act, among other legislations. They are tasked with investigating how council revenue, particularly through outsourced arrangements like Rufaro Marketing and City Parking, has been managed.

A critical point of the investigation involves Harare’s lack of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system since 2019. This absence has raised questions about potential financial mismanagement, as previous Auditor-General reports suggest that without an ERP, accurate tracking of funds remains challenging.

The commission will delve into matters regarding the management, sale, and lease of council properties. There are concerns surrounding transparency and fairness in these transactions, with an emphasis on whether council properties were handled in alignment with municipal regulations.

In its expanded mandate, the team will examine the council’s adherence to procurement laws, especially regarding the disposal of assets. They will also investigate how well council meetings adhere to standing orders and rules.

President Mnangagwa’s directive permits the commission to examine any additional issues they consider relevant. This gives them comprehensive authority to investigate, question witnesses, and manage information pertinent to Harare’s local governance.

Since their swearing-in, commission members have conducted public hearings, questioning HCC officials and gathering testimonies from stakeholders to inform their findings.

The Zim Bulletin