Senior Staff Writer
The Harare City Council is currently grappling with a severe corruption scandal that has left residents furious and employees on the brink of rebellion. At the heart of the crisis is Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango, who reportedly earns a staggering $30,000 a month, in addition to various extravagant allowances that have now been exposed by this publication.
Mayor Jacob Mafume has faced intense criticism for his attempts to expose the salaries of council executives. However, his efforts have been obstructed by Deputy Town Clerk Matthew Marara and Acting Human Capital Manager Bosman Matengarufu, both of whom are also recipients of the inflated, hidden payroll. What little Mafume has managed to uncover is shocking: a $30,000 monthly salary for Chisango, and an extravagant $1 million expenditure on vehicles, funds that could have been better spent transforming the capital into a world-class city.
An investigation by this publication has revealed that, on top of his exorbitant salary, Chisango receives a holiday allowance of $19,000, an entertainment allowance, a clothing allowance, and even the payment of his children’s school fees. Other directors are also benefitting from similar, though slightly lower, allowances. Meanwhile, ordinary employees struggle to survive, earning a paltry $112 in Nostro payments and 6000 Zimbabwean dollars—salaries that remain unpaid.
There are growing calls for the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) to investigate Chisango’s Nostro accounts, with insiders claiming the findings will uncover a network of deceit and corruption that could shake the nation. “We’re sitting on a powder keg, and it’s only a matter of time before ZACC uncovers the full extent of what’s been hidden. When employees from Grade 7 to Grade 16, who haven’t even been paid their January salaries, see what Matengarufu is concealing from the Mayor, there will be riots at Town House without even waiting for union approval,” warned a senior council staff member.
The situation in Harare is already dire. There is no diesel for essential services, frequent water shortages, blocked drainage systems, a lack of medical supplies, and mountains of uncollected waste. Employees have even begun absenteeism due to the high costs of transport. Redirecting just one year’s worth of Chisango’s salary into the council’s coffers would be enough to fully pay all employees and address nearly half of the city’s most pressing issues.
“It’s time for us to stand up and demand accountability. We are not slaves,” the staff member continued. “We can’t let them continue to steal while we suffer. The Commission of Inquiry is trying, but ZACC must act now or risk becoming complicit in the corruption. If that happens, protests and demonstrations will be inevitable. The Mayor can’t fight this battle alone; the executive is too powerful, and they’re willing to bribe or even eliminate anyone who threatens their ability to loot the council at the expense of the employees and residents.”