Questions mount as Harare advertises one executive vacancy leaving five critical posts idle

Remember Deketeke

Herald Correspondent

HARARE City Council has stirred fresh controversy after advertising only one top executive vacancy – the Human Capital Director – while leaving several equally critical posts, some vacant for years, conspicuously untouched.

The advert, published on Thursday, invites applications for the position despite the capital city continuing to operate without substantive leaders in five key departments: town clerk, finance, chamber secretary, town planning and water.

The move has renewed concerns over council’s priorities and its commitment to restoring administrative stability in line with basic governance principles.

Residents, stakeholders and central Government have long warned that prolonged acting appointments are paralysing service delivery, yet the local authority has again chosen to fill just one portfolio – ironically, one that itself has been held in an acting capacity for more than five years.

Governance experts say it is highly unusual for an institution grappling with deep structural challenges to address only a single executive vacancy while ignoring equally strategic roles that affect the city’s day-to-day functioning.

Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume confirmed the recruitment process was now underway.

“Yes, today we have put an advert in the paper and we think we will be able to tell you who has applied for the positions sooner,” he said.

He added that more vacancies would be advertised soon: “We will also be putting adverts for other positions like town clerk, chamber secretary, finance director and others.”