malvernmugadzikwa
Of late, there have been a lot of developments locally and internationally that have been keeping people exercised.
Last week, the conflict in the Middle East — pitting US-backed Israel and the Iran-backed axis of resistance (Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, et cetera) — escalated to frightening levels, with Tehran launching an assortment of ballistic missiles on Tel Aviv.
Watching that nighttime salvo of missiles literally raining onto Israel looked, seemed and felt apocalyptic.
The world might be sleepwalking into another cataclysmic World War, which is ominous, particularly in an age of advanced and sophisticated weaponry, not least nuclear weapons.
A dangerous tit-for-tat war game that is likely to ensue after Iran’s Tuesday attack might possibly spiral out of control.
The implications are scary.
Back home, most people’s attention was, however, engaged by the much more benign but intriguing real-life soap opera of the Mtukudzi family.
The bitter recriminations among the late Oliver Mtukudzi’s widow, Daisy, and her stepdaughters Sandra and Selmor — punctuated by sensational revelations at every turn — continue to make this melancholic drama shocking, but riveting nonetheless.
Sadly, the collateral damage is on the image of the late iconic musician, whose soul deserves a break, especially after his lifelong service of producing soul-soothing hits that helped accompany us both in our high and low moments.
The world really needs some love.
Chickens now coming home to roost
But all these developments had the unwanted effect of distracting people from the intriguing circus at Town House in Harare, which is, however, slowly coming to an end.
By appointing a commission of inquiry into the local governance by the Harare City Council since 2017, President ED really set the cat among the pigeons.
You see, ever since the opposition began controlling the affairs of the capital at the turn of the millennium, its councillors seemed to have been loyal to an oath of omerta, through which they maintained a conspiracy of silence while they greedily helped themselves to council land and coffers.
Over the years, reluctance to audit the council’s books and come up with an effective billing system has provided convenient cover under which an orgy of looting has thrived.
And this is exactly what has brought the capital to its knees.
Harare is now barely recognisable.
From streets overrun by vendors to potholed roads, uncollected garbage, taps that are now perennially dry, decrepit community halls, neglected recreational parks and non-working streetlights, the decay is there for all to see.
But the tide is beginning to turn.
The ever-shrewd and methodical ED initially launched the blueprint “A Call to Action — No Compromise to Service Delivery” in November last year, which was meant to provide the framework under which local authorities were supposed to work to deliver services to the people, before appointing the Justice Maphios Cheda-led commission of inquiry on May 10 this year.
You see, a fitting prescription to Harare’s multi-faceted crises is only possible once a diagnosis has been made.
And mindful of the potential ramifications and implications of the truth — or rather, criminal activities — being uncovered, the councillors and officials appearing before the Justice Cheda Commission have been singing like a canary in a desperate bid to save their own skin.
The testimonies have all but degenerated into a slugfest of accusations and counter-accusations, indicating that the chickens are really coming home to roost.
As Bishop Lazarus said before, we all knew that there was rot at Town House, but we never knew it ran so unimaginably deep.
We now know why unplanned settlements are sprouting up on lands reserved for churches, schools, clinics and recreational purposes, and, most disconcertingly, on wetlands.
City of Harare town clerk Hosiah Chisango, for example, told the commission during his testimony on August 26 that opposition CCC councillors invaded and parcelled out close to 5 000 stands before last year’s harmonised elections, while close to 349 illegal housing cooperatives were hurriedly regularised.
We also learnt that the council had passed a resolution to revoke court orders for demolitions at Crowborough Paddocks, among other areas.
So, essentially, it is the council that has been actively participating in and sanitising land invasions in the capital through its criminal resolutions.
Workshopping the new vacationing
And thanks to the commission, we also now know of the unbridled greed of Harare councillors, who splurged more than ZiG230 million between December last year and June this year on weekly workshopping, including hefty out-of-town allowances.
They say at an International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) policy validation and compliance meeting held between June 6 and 8 at Kadoma Hotel and Conference Centre, and attended by more than 177 officials, the council could have spent in excess of ZiG154,6 million, which was close to US$11 million at the time. Most absurdly, a week later, the council opened its purse again and splashed US$122 000 at the same hotel for a one-night risk-based audit plan event.
Earlier on May 29, 2024, the city had chewed about US$2 300 on lunch for seven people at the Mayoral Mansion in Gunhill, Harare.
This stinks to high heaven.
Had the Government not stepped in by banning workshops or training programmes outside the city without ministerial approval, the city fathers could have bilked more resources from a city we are told is cash-strapped. All this money could have been better spent on delivering services to ratepayers, which is exactly what they pay for.
There have been other revelations of unrestrained and primitive corruption as well.
Perhaps the highlight of recriminations currently plaguing the council was the recent clash between Jacob Mafume, the current mayor, and Chipanga, the embattled and beleaguered town clerk.
Chipanga actually believes it is Mafume, as well as his cabal, who are responsible for his current woes. At the same time, Mafume opines that Chipanga, through his testimony before the commission, was hell-bent on throwing his allies under the bus.
Relations between the two men have reportedly soured to the extent that they nearly came to blows at Town House on September 23 after Chipanga unceremoniously returned for duty after his release on bail.
On Tuesday, the duo was at it again, when Chisango, who had earlier been suspended from duty, pitched up for the full council meeting.
His defiance was, however, short-lived, as he was eventually ejected from the council chambers.
Crucially, all this is emblematic of a circus that has since run its course.
At this ominous moment, the city fathers should reflect on the counsel of Proverbs 28:1-10: “The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order. A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops. Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them. Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.”
It also adds: “Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse. A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father. Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable. Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.”
Behold the new
The tide has since turned.
It will take a hopeless optimist to believe that things will remain the same after the commission of inquiry presents its findings to ED.
Over the past five years, Harare, as the capital, has been the missing link, marooned in a sea of decay and neglect, which belied the rapid pace of development and progress made by the Second Republic.
Only when the Government temporarily took over Harare ahead of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit did we see the sparkle of what the city can become. But with the City of Harare taking over again, the regression has been noticeable. Salvation will, however, come soon enough.
The days of clowns at Town House are numbered and a new refreshing era for council beckons.
All in good time.
Bishop out!
Online Reporter