Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
HARARE City Council officials have been accused of aiding the operation of over 5 000 illegal billboards across the city, prejudicing the local authority of revenue.
The city is only receiving payments for a mere 187 billboards.
This was revealed at a meeting between the Parliamentary Portfolio on Public Accounts Committee and the City of Harare leadership led by Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume.
The meeting sought to discuss the value for money audit report on nine local authorities, which was recently conducted by the Auditor-General.
Giving a brief summary about Monday’s meeting, Public Accounts Committee chairperson Chalton Hwende said the meeting exposed officials’ involvement in the mushrooming of illegal billboards.
“The City of Harare is only collecting fees from 187 legal billboards, while 5 000 billboards are illegal and not generating any revenue for the city,” he said.
“When we asked about measures to recover lost revenue, officials claimed they did not have a crane to remove illegal billboards.
“It was later revealed that some officials are operating these illegal billboards and collecting the money, which explains their reluctance to enforce compliance.”
Mr Hwende said the audit exposed significant mismanagement and corruption, adding that there was need for urgent corrective action.
The fresh allegations come on the heels of other accusations that the city has failed to crack down on illegal pirate taxis, which are operating with impunity, especially near some of its offices, allegedly due to municipal officers receiving kickbacks.
Harare City’s revenue collection efforts are being allegedly hindered by ineffective licence fee collection from tuckshops, with reports suggesting officials are benefiting from kickbacks.
