More rot exposed in council

Blessings Chidakwa-Herald Reporter

THE rot in the Harare City Council resulted in the city spending 13 years without collecting a cent from its 130 beerhalls, with four having been corruptly sold.

A report of the special committee on Rufaro Marketing mandated to run the beerhalls showed that current and former council employees were subletting the beerhalls in foreign currency, yet paying nothing, or only a paltry fee to the council.

Harare was receiving no remittances from its subsidiary, Harare Quarry Company, despite its operation over the years amid fears that the bosses would probably be sharing the loot with corrupt council officials.

Addressing the media yesterday on the city’s failure to have its 2024 budget approved by the Government, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said Rufaro Marketing had not been collecting revenue until they changed the board to run what has largely become a property business.

“Rufaro Marketing had all but collapsed; we were receiving zero revenue from a contingency of over 130 bars. Three or so were sold by the previous council, but we are now able to account for all the bars.

“Going forward, we are looking at improving the real estate that we are managing, the 126 beer halls, and revitalise them and bring them to their glory,” he said.

Mayor Mafume said of the 126 bars recovered since last year they had also brought US$100 000 through Rufaro Stadium and direct remittance.

He also said its Harare Quarry firm was also on its knees with only City Parking being a profit-making entity.

“Harare Quarry, where we were supposed to do our quarrying for the road and producing hot asphalt, has not worked out successfully.

“We have merged the quarry with our other sister companies so that we can reinvest in it, buy a crusher and asphalt machines and improve on the roads,” he said.