dyton mupawaenda
Joseph Madzimure and Ivan Zhakata
Harare City councillors are headed for a possible clash with Government over the proposed forced transfer of Deputy Director of Human Services in the Department of Housing and Community Services, Dr Funny Machipisa, to another department.
This move is being used to “punish” Dr Machipisa for implementing a Ministry of Local Government and Public Works directive on the allocation of stands to councillors.
Dr Machipisa, who oversees stand allocations across Harare, is allegedly being victimised by councillors who sit in the Human Resources and General Purposes Committee after he recently notified 59 councillors about stands allocated to them within their respective wards, as per the ministerial directive.
The directive says councillors who do not own houses in their wards can only be allocated a single discounted stand (40 percent off) within the ward, with payments spread out over their term.
However, councillors are reportedly unhappy with this directive as they prefer stands in affluent suburbs like Borrowdale, Westgate, Mabelreign, and Greendale.
The plot to remove Dr Machipisa from his position was hatched at the Human Resources and General Purposes Committee’s meeting yesterday.
The committee wants Dr Machipisa to be moved to the Department of Excellence, whose purpose is still unclear. Sources familiar with the meeting confirmed the plot to reassign Dr Machipisa, saying the committee’s objective is to “normalise operations” and potentially appoint someone more aligned with their preferences on the allocation of stands.
Ward 3 Councillor Simbarashe Chanachimwe who is alleged to be one of those pushing for the reassignment of Dr Machipisa professed ignorance over the issue and referred all questions to the Human Resources Department.
The Human Resources and General Purposes Committee’s chairperson, Councillor George Mujajati confirmed the plans but said Dr Machipisa is not the only one being moved to the Department of Excellence.
“We are sending him there because of his qualifications, which suit the department,” he said.
“We are trying to boost the department so some people with doctorates are being moved there. This is meant to enhance governance operations within the city council,” he said.
The magnitude of the rot at the City of Harare resulted in President Mnangagwa establishing the Commission of Inquiry to investigate the financial and management operations of the City of Harare.
The commission set up last month and being chaired by Justice Maphios Cheda, will run for six months, with the possibility of an additional three months.
The other commissioners are Mr Steven Chakaipa, Mr Norbert Phiri, Mrs Lucia Gladys Matibenga and Ms Khonzani Ncube, while Local Government and Public Works Permanent Secretary Dr John Basera will be the team’s secretary.
They will submit a report to the President within six months after their inquiry, but have a leeway to extent by three months. According to Statutory Instrument 91 of 2024, the Commission of Inquiry will look into the matter of local governance by the Harare City Council from 2017 to present.
Online Reporter
Peter Tanyanyiwa