Online Reporter
Blessings Chidakwa and Nokuthula Dube
THE Harare City Council (HCC) is increasingly becoming dysfunctional as critical leadership positions remain vacant, a development that is affecting decision-making and the smooth running of the capital city.
Five senior executive positions in the local authority are currently unoccupied. They include the critical post of town clerk, after Engineer Hosiah Chisango was reportedly forced to resign a fortnight ago.
Overall, the vacant posts also include the position of chamber secretary and director positions for three departments — human capital, urban planning services and finance.
The absence of top-level administrators, including a substantive town clerk, finance director, chamber secretary and city planner, has effectively paralysed operations at the heart of municipal governance.
Once known as the “Sunshine City”, Harare has steadily declined and is now plagued by erratic water supply, mushrooming illegal settlements and crumbling infrastructure.
Pressure has been mounting for the capital to engage qualified and committed leadership to restore order and transparency in the capital.
Speaking during the 1 935th ordinary council meeting on May 9, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said Town Clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango, through his lawyers, had advised that he is parting ways with the council and wishes to negotiate his exit package.
“A special negotiating team is now being assembled to determine his exit package,” he said.
Engineer Chisango joined the City of Harare in 1991 and rose through the ranks to become the city’s top administrator.
The key position, which is responsible for overall coordination and execution of council policies, has been vacant ever since Eng Chisango was suspended on September 30, 2024 on allegations of misconduct, including awarding a streetlighting tender to a blacklisted company.
He was also accused of renewing his contract without authorisation.
Engineer Phakamile Mabhena Moyo is the acting town clerk.
Worsening corruption
Harare Residents’ Trust director Mr Precious Shumba claimed the lack of substantive directors could be worsening corruption at Town House.
“The absence of substantive directors has crippled the council’s operations because councillors and those in acting capacities are simply acting to maximise their personal benefits using their positions,” he said.
“Remember, a cunning official manipulates unemployed councillors by showing them where they can also benefit while they are in office. Money is given to corrupt councillors to keep someone acting in a position
forever, which consolidates their cartel businesses.
“None of them is focused on addressing the water shortages affecting residents, non-collection of garbage, worsening levels of internal corruption and absence of a professional culture among the managers.”
Mr Brian Muyengwa, a resident of Mbare, said Harare is on autopilot.
“How can we expect development or accountability when the people supposed to steer the ship are not there? It’s like no one wants to take responsibility anymore. Everything is wait and see.”
Equally alarming is the absence of a substantive finance director, who is ordinarily expected to manage the city’s coffers.
Without financial oversight, Harare has been dogged by budget shortfalls, poor revenue collection and misallocation of funds, which have crippled even the most basic service delivery functions.
Last year, HCC advertised for a new finance boss after operating for nine years without one, but an appointment has not been made yet.
The last finance director, Mr Tendai Kwenda, had been on suspension since 2015 due to legal challenges, briefly returning in 2022 before agreeing to part ways with the council.
During Mr Kwenda’s suspension, Mr Stanley Ndemera acted as finance director, before being arrested and jailed on corruption-related charges.
He was replaced by Mr Godfrey Kusangaya, who currently holds the post in an acting capacity.
“Every month, we face water shortages, potholes everywhere and no garbage collection. Where is the money going?” asked Mr Tafadzwa Ngulube, a small business owner in Highfield.
“We need a finance director who can account for every cent.”
The chamber secretary — another crucial yet vacant post — is the city’s legal adviser and custodian of council records.
Without a substantive official in this role, observers warn that legal issues and procedural lapses may become common.
Harare has lacked a substantive chamber secretary since Mrs Josephine Ncube’s departure in 2018.
Mr Charles Kandemiri took over in an acting capacity, before being suspended in 2021 on criminal abuse of office charges.
In 2023, Mr Kandemiri was sentenced to six years in prison for attempting to sell Mount Pleasant Golf Club and Golf Course.
He was to be replaced by Mr Warren Chiwawa, who was the top candidate in interviews held last year, but the Local Government Board has not yet finalised the appointment processes.
Meanwhile, Harare’s challenges continue to fester.
The city is yet to appoint a substantive city planner after the creation of the new post critical to urban design, zoning enforcement and environmental planning.
The result is an explosion of unplanned settlements, haphazard construction and illegal vending sites.
HCC spokesperson Mr Stanley Gama declined to comment.
The City of Harare is still searching for a director of urban planning services, a role created after a Presidential directive mandating all local authorities to have full-fledged planning departments to curb the spread of informal settlements nationwide.
In an advert last year, the council noted that the planner would be responsible for planning, organising and directing the overall operations of the Urban Planning Department.
At present, the only substantive directors in place are Mr Addmore Nhekairo (Housing), Dr Prosper Chonzi (Health), Engineer Phakamile Mabhena Moyo (Water) and Mr Isaac Chawatama (Works).
While their departments continue to function, residents argue that the wider problems within Town House cannot be stemmed without a full leadership overhaul.
Local governance watchdogs and civil society organisations have urged the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, as well as the local authority, to expedite recruitment processes and fill these vacant positions based on merit.
“Harare cannot continue to drift. These vacancies are not just bureaucratic; they affect lives daily. It’s time for real leadership,” said another resident, Mr Farai Gumbo.
Online Reporter