Online ReporterBlessings Chidakwa
Herald Reporter
HARARE City Council is deliberately flouting good corporate governance tenets by not appointing substantive directors to key executive posts, some of which have been vacant for over 10 years.
However, those in acting positions appear comfortable as they receive salaries and perks equivalent to those of officers in substantive roles.
Key positions currently held in acting capacities include that of the town clerk, the chief executive of the city, the finance director, who oversees the council’s coffers and the chamber secretary, the city’s chief legal adviser.
There is also the position of urban planning services director, a new post that was created after the President directed all local authorities to establish fully-fledged planning departments to curb the mushrooming of haphazard settlements across the country.
Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume confirmed that some acting officials were frustrating the process of filling these vacancies.
“This is depriving the city of much-needed skills and we are working flat out to ensure all vacancies are filled as those that are acting also leave their positions vacant,” he said.
“The irony is that the acting human capital director does not advertise his post, but other vacancies, meaning the office has had more than five years with an acting person.”
Council’s last substantive finance boss was Mr Tendai Kwenda, who was suspended in 2015 due to legal issues before briefly returning in 2022. Mr Kwenda was subsequently relieved of his duties and negotiated his exit package with council.
During his suspension, Stanley Ndemera served as acting finance director until he was arrested and jailed on corruption-related charges. Ndemera was succeeded by Mr Godfrey Kusangaya, who is currently the acting finance director.
Harare has had no substantive chamber secretary since the departure of Mrs Josephine Ncube in 2018, when Mr Charles Kandemiri assumed the role in an acting capacity.
He was suspended in 2021 on charges of criminal abuse of office, after which Mr Warren Chiwawa took over and has continued in the role to date.
