The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) recorded 1000 corruption cases in 2023, with urban authorities, particularly councillors and council officials, responsible for 13% of the total. The rise in reported cases is credited to the introduction of integrity pledges and committees aimed at curbing misconduct among high-ranking public officials, a move initiated as part of the government’s zero-tolerance approach to corruption, established in 2022. ZACC Chairperson Michael Reza highlighted that the majority of the cases implicated urban councils, signifying the urgency for interventions.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa responded to ongoing allegations of corruption by launching a Commission of Inquiry into the Affairs of the Harare City Council (HCC) in May 2024, led by Justice Maphios Cheda. The inquiry has already identified numerous irregularities within the council’s operations, exposing the deep-rooted issues in the city’s management.
The prevalence of corruption in local government, especially urban councils, underscores the need for greater transparency and central government intervention to protect public trust and ensure accountability. Corruption hampers service delivery for ratepayers, with land barons, often shielded by corrupt officials, manipulating urban planning and deceiving homeowners with fraudulent housing schemes. Such practices undermine the President’s “call to action: no compromise to service delivery” blueprint, which is vital for Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030.
Public trust in local governance is eroded as land barons exploit homebuyers, leaving families financially drained through non-existent projects. To address these challenges, ZACC is urged to conduct thorough investigations, prosecute offenders, and release their findings publicly to deter future corruption. The replication of the Harare inquiry across other councils would help address widespread corruption, contributing to a more accountable and transparent local governance system across Zimbabwe.
