“You’re better off chasing elephants,” Judge Cheda tells unqualified Harare councillor Duma

By Staff Reporter

Harare – Retired High Court Judge Justice Maphios Cheda, has sharply criticized Harare City Council (HCC) audit committee chairperson, Blessing Duma, for leading the committee without possessing the necessary accounting qualifications.

Duma, a ward 29 councillor, appearing before The Justice Cheda Commission of Inquiry, last week revealed that he chaired the HCC’s audit committee despite having qualifications in journalism and wildlife management.

Justice Cheda expressed dismay at Duma’s testimony, which highlighted that several councillors chairing HCC committees lacked the relevant expertise.

“Don’t you think you are better off running after elephants.

“You have no qualifications in accounts,” Justice Cheda told Duma.

Duma went on to state that elected councillors were sworn into office and appointed committee chairpersons and deputy chairpersons without the requisite qualifications to lead the committees they chaired, equating them to “dunderheads.”

“Even one with a Grade 1 qualification can be elected a councillor.

“If you go through the CVs of the councillors at the Town House you would be shocked.

“We only know about someone’s qualifications later on,” Duma told the Commission of Inquiry.

The five-member Commission of Inquiry led by Justice Cheda, was appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to investigate governance issues at HCC in May.

Duma, appearing before the Commission of Inquiry, said HCC was rife with corruption.

“The city of Harare is rotten to the core,” he stated.

He revealed that HCC had engaged in illegal activities, including disregarding a court order to demolish houses built by illegal land invaders at Crowborough farm.

HCC had won a court order to evict the invaders but defied it and allowed them to remain.

Duma also mentioned that his committee had been denied access to financial information regarding several council subsidiaries.

Harare residents have long complained about the poor service delivery provided by the council in Zimbabwe’s capital.

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