Opinion by Dereck Goto
Harare, once a great city of promise, has plunged even further into turmoil, and the recent revelations about the conduct of its city councillors have only added to the decline. In a shocking disclosure during a recent special council meeting, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume exposed a disturbing trend among some councillors who attend meetings while under the influence of intoxicating substances. This revelation sheds light on the underlying reasons for the city’s deteriorating service delivery, at a time when Harare grapples with a cholera pandemic.
The conduct of Harare’s councillors can only be described as lacking in seriousness, marked by poor attitudes towards council business and a concerning level of unprofessionalism. These issues have hampered the council’s ability to address the critical challenges facing the city. Instead of focusing on rectifying the mess left behind by their opposition predecessors, members of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) wasted the first four months of their term on out-of-town workshops.
The use and abuse of drugs and/or alcohol by CCC councillors has severely disrupted the functioning of the Harare City Council. Such behavior not only hinders their ability to engage in productive deliberations but also disrupts council proceedings, creating an environment where other members find it nearly impossible to fulfill their responsibilities. This was evident in the recent tumultuous events that unfolded at City Hall.
Moreover, the recent extension of Operation Chenesa Harare by the government, granting an additional seven days to the Harare City Council (HCC) to develop a sustainable solid waste management plan, now appears to be in jeopardy. Councillors attending meetings under the influence are likely to miss the deadline or present a subpar plan.
It is worth noting that the HCC, citing a lack of capacity, has relinquished control of waste management in the city to the government. This decision comes despite the council’s expenditure of significant sums on unnecessary trips and expenses in the final quarter of 2023. These funds, which could have been redirected toward improving service delivery, were instead squandered.
Furthermore, the citizens of Harare are facing rampant extortion and lawlessness perpetrated by city officials and employees. A syndicate of council and law enforcement officers operates within the Central Business District (CBD), demanding payments from motorists in US dollars but issuing receipts in Zimbabwean dollars (ZWL), thereby exploiting innocent citizens.
At the Mbare Musika market, a designated hotspot, reports suggest that council employees have abdicated their sanitation duties to individuals who demand additional cleaning fees from stallholders. This is despite the fact that stallholders already pay a daily fee to the council, which is meant to cover the use and sanitation of the market.
In this deteriorating environment, corruption and lawlessness within the Harare City Council are on the rise, despite the promises made by the new crop of councillors during their election campaigns. Harare residents are left grappling with the devastating consequences of this situation, as the council’s woes continue to mount.
