A Commission of Inquiry, led by Justice Maphios Cheda and appointed by President Mnangagwa, has revealed alarming evidence of mismanagement and corruption within the Harare City Council (HCC) since 2017. The inquiry, prompted by widespread public discontent and protests over the council’s poor service delivery, uncovered a disturbing pattern of abuse of power, financial irregularities, and neglect. These revelations highlight the need for urgent reforms to restore accountability and effective governance in the capital city.
Edgar Dzehonye, the HCC Housing Principal Officer, testified before the commission, revealing that the city had fallen under the control of land barons. He admitted that proper town planning procedures had been abandoned, with key aspects of land management thrown “into the trash can.” This admission serves as further validation of President Mnangagwa’s decision to launch the commission, underscoring the depth of corruption that has infiltrated the city’s administration.
The Commission’s findings also raise serious concerns about the conduct of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)-dominated council, which has blatantly disregarded council by-laws and procedures. Despite repeated calls from Harare residents for improved housing and service delivery, the council’s actions suggest a lack of commitment to addressing these issues. Fortunately, the government’s intervention through the commission could bring order to the City Council, offering hope for more transparent governance and better living conditions for residents.
The influence of land barons in Harare, facilitated by the complicity of HCC officials, has further compounded the problem. The revelations point to an entrenched network of corruption that has allowed illegal land sales to flourish, with local law enforcement seemingly compromised. The commission’s findings underscore the urgent need for a complete overhaul of the city’s governance structures to eliminate corruption, hold officials accountable, and protect the rights of Harare’s citizens.
