Harare City Council chaotic, ungovernable

Blessings Chidakwa

Herald Reporter

CORRUPTION is taking its toll at Harare City Council where city fathers are on a looting spree and fattening their pockets at the expense of their main mandate of providing services, with the Government yesterday saying it is ready to restore sanity.
In a statement on the state of affairs at Harare City Council, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said he has noted with concern various malpractices that have rendered the council ungovernable and chaotic.

“It is disheartening to note that the city fathers have abandoned their core mandate of service delivery and have resorted to self-service through several corrupt activities at the expense of ratepayers,” he said.

“In light of this, the minister is determined to assist in restoring the city to a functional status where it can undertake the duties, roles and responsibilities for effective service delivery in a manner that benefits all ratepayers and citizens of the City of Harare,” he said.

Minister Garwe appealed to all residents and the general public to be patient and support Government efforts to restore order in the capital.

Dry taps, uncollected garbage, sewer bursts, and malfunctioning streetlights have been the new norm while councillors and managers are sponsoring their lavish lifestyles.

Since the appointment of President Mnangagwa’s Commission of Inquiry into the city’s affairs, there has been panic, with councillors and managers reshuffling key personnel in the legal and housing department to cover up corrupt deeds.