By Marshall Bwanya
Harare – Harare City Council (HCC), ward 14 councillor Costa Mande has defended the local authority’s US$400, 000 monthly expenditure on workshops during the first seven months of the year, despite ongoing concerns about poor service delivery.
Mande, who also doubles as chairperson of HCC’s finance committee defended the lavish spending during his testimony on Tuesday before the Commission of Inquiry into Harare City affairs.
The Commission chaired by retired High Court Justice Maphios Cheda, is investigating allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and inadequate service provision by the local authority.
Mande’s defense comes after HCC town clerk Hosiah Chisango previously claimed that over $11 million was spent on workshops and seminars in the same period.
He contested Chisango’s figures, asserting that the actual expenditure was $2.1 million, according to council records.
However, the Commission’s Evidence Leader Thabani Mpofu, argued that even this lower figure is excessive given the local authority’s service delivery challenges.
“It is justified. Most members (councillors) would not know how council operates,” responded Mande.
Mpofu challenged Mande on the justification for such spending, asking, “You cannot supply medication to your clinics, but you say spending $400,000 is justified?”
Mande replied firmly, “It’s justified.”
When pressed on whether the council should prioritize workshops over healthcare, Mande did not provide a clear response.
The Commission also revealed HCC held a excessive orientation workshop for the sports committee attended by 102 people, which Mande claimed he was unaware of despite his role as finance committee chair.
Additionally, Mpofu inquired about the $372,000 paid to HCC deputy director Matthew Marara during his purported retirement tenure, to which Mande replied, “I am not aware of that.”
Cheda questioned Mande about the apparent chaos within the council, noting that many activities seemed to occur without his knowledge.
“You are the chairperson of the finance committee and a lot of activities are done without your knowledge, are you admitting there is chaos within the city council,” asked Cheda
Mande admitted, “I would say there is a problem.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed the Commission in May to investigate allegations of misuse of council funds, corruption, and inadequate service provision to residents.
The Commission is expected to gather information and prepare a report by December.
