Harare City Council Executives Rake in Half a Million In Salaries While Services Crumble

Harare, Zimbabwe | As Residents grapple with deteriorating essential services—ranging from uncollected garbage and persistent sewage leaks to malfunctioning traffic signals and unsafe drinking water—startling revelations have surfaced about the financial practices of the city’s top management.

During an inquiry led by Retired Judge Justice Maphios Cheda, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume disclosed that the executive team collectively earns an astonishing half a million US dollars monthly in salaries.

The Town Clerk, according to Mafume, receives a staggering US$27,000 per month.

“I requested a salary report from the Human Resources director,” Mafume stated. “He declined, citing instructions from the Town Clerk. However, he later shared the document confidentially, and I discovered that the highest-paid executive receives US$27,000.”

Mafume also noted that even the lowest-paid executive takes home an impressive US$15,000 each month. When asked by lead evidence presenter Thabani Mpofu whether these figures included additional benefits, Mafume confirmed that they did not. Factoring in allowances, some executives’ earnings exceed US$30,000 per month.

Justice Cheda questioned Mafume on his inability to rein in excessive executive salaries. Mafume responded that executives often remind him that he lacks the authority to dictate financial matters, as he does not hold executive mayoral powers.

He further described the relationship between councillors and the City Council executive as strained, which has only worsened Harare’s governance challenges.

Beyond financial mismanagement, the inquiry scrutinized several contentious governance issues. Mafume faced tough questioning about the increasing number of service stations in residential areas, which Town Planning Director Samuel Nyabeza has vowed to demolish due to safety risks.

Another pressing concern was the widespread malfunctioning of traffic lights across the city, which has led to frequent accidents, some resulting in fatalities. Despite these dangers, the City Council has yet to implement lasting solutions.

The disclosure of extravagant executive salaries amidst widespread service failures has sparked outrage among Harare residents. Citizens and stakeholders are now demanding urgent reforms to curb mismanagement and ensure better service delivery. As the Commission of Inquiry continues its investigations, residents hope for accountability and meaningful change within the City Council.

For now, however, the stark contrast between the luxurious earnings of city executives and the declining infrastructure of Harare underscores the deep-seated governance issues plaguing Zimbabwe’s capital.