By Takudzwa Changadeya
Harare – The Harare City Council (HCC) has once itself been at the center of controversy amid allegations of a clandestine plot to illegally extend the contract of Acting Finance Director Godfrey Kusangaya.
This is despite a standing council resolution on retired workers prohibiting such extensions.
A land baron known only as Mbwende, is reportedly fronting the plot, raising serious concerns about entrenched corruption within the HCC’s administration.
According to insider sources, Mbwende spent Tuesday lobbying members of the Human and General Purposes Committee, allegedly offering councillors up to $2,000 each to secure their support for Kusangaya’s continued tenure.
Reports indicate that one councillor has received this illicit payment, fueling fears that the upcoming committee meeting will be a mere formality, rubber-stamping the extension despite a council resolution prohibiting contract extensions for retired workers.
The scandal has taken a more sinister turn with the alleged involvement of the Harare Mayor, who reportedly contacted committee members, urging their attendance at the meeting and offering additional incentives to secure their approval for Kusangaya’s continued tenure.
It is widely believed that Kusangaya’s position is instrumental in facilitating a network of corrupt officials and tenderpreneurs.
These tenderpreneurs, who provide services to the city, allegedly pay kickbacks to councillors and senior officials.
Kusangaya’s role in expediting payments to these contractors is seen as crucial to the smooth operation of this corrupt system.
Inside sources suggest that replacing Kusangaya with a new appointee could threaten this corrupt system, as a fresh candidate might refuse to cooperate with the cartels.
The City of Harare has not had a permanent Finance Director for over five years.
Previously, Livingston Churu, who also served in an acting capacity, gained a reputation for closing financial loopholes.
However, his efforts reportedly angered corrupt elements within the council, leading to his removal.
Churu has since taken up a similar role at Gweru City Council.
Critics argue that the council’s failure to appoint a permanent Finance Director is intentional.
Allegations suggest some councillors and directors have lobbied the Local Government Board to delay the recruitment process or reject qualified candidates, thereby keeping their preferred acting director in place to enable continued looting of public funds.
Efforts to obtain a comment from Kusangaya were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered.
The unfolding saga has sparked outrage among Harare residents and anti-corruption advocates, who are demanding urgent intervention to end the alleged corruption and mismanagement within the city council.
