Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke
Municipal Correspondent
HARARE City Council has not audited its financial books since 2022, exposing serious governance gaps at Town House and raising fresh questions over accountability in the management of millions collected from residents through rates and service charges.
Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume confirmed the backlog in an interview with The Herald yesterday, saying urgent measures were now being taken to clear the outstanding audits.
The admission means council accounts for 2023, 2024 and 2025 are still to be finalised, leaving residents, Government and stakeholders without a complete official picture of the city’s financial position during a period marked by poor service delivery and rising infrastructure demands.
Clr Mafume said he would immediately meet the council’s external auditors and the internal audit department to assess progress and set firm timelines for completion of the overdue accounts.
“I believe there are no excuses for not conducting orderly and timeous audits,” he said.
The audit backlog comes as the local authority continues to grapple with weaknesses in its revenue management systems.
In 2023, Harare was directed to migrate to a modern Enterprise Resource Planning system to improve billing efficiency, tighten internal controls and enhance financial transparency.
However, delays in implementation saw the city continue using the older BIQ-era platform, which has been widely criticised for weak safeguards.
The outdated system has been blamed for loopholes that allegedly enabled some so-called “super users” to manipulate accounts and siphon funds.
Reports indicate that at least ZiG2 million was lost through system abuse, although no arrests had been made by yesterday.
Last year, the council signed a contract for the implementation of a new ERP system under Quill Associates, which is expected to replace the BIQ platform.
According to previous findings by the Auditor-General, the introduction of a fully integrated ERP system is expected to improve record keeping, strengthen internal controls and fast-track the audit process.
This year, council is expected to begin operating under the reactivated Quill Associates platform as part of wider efforts to modernise billing, accounting and administrative functions.
Clr Mafume said restoring order in council finances was closely linked to improving service delivery, particularly water provision.
