Harare City Council Official Claims Corruption Whistleblowers Are Threatened and Poisoned

A Harare City Council official has alleged that individuals exposing corruption at Town House are being threatened with death and, in some cases, poisoned.

During a 2024 Commission of Inquiry into suspected financial mismanagement and corruption in Harare dating back to 2017, acting Human Capital Director Bosman Matengarufu shared his harrowing experiences of threats and violence. He claimed to have received multiple death threats, survived an assassination attempt, and been poisoned as corrupt groups tried to silence him.

Matengarufu recounted an incident in 2020 when he was chased out of a Chinhoyi workshop by an armed individual, aiming to intimidate him into halting his efforts to expose corruption.

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“The City of Harare is a toxic environment,” Matengarufu said. “I was poisoned twice, and it’s on record. I was chased away at a Chinhoyi workshop with a gun to deter me from exposing corruption.”

When questioned by Justice Maphios Cheda, the Commission’s chair, Matengarufu explained that his poisoning was linked to his demotion following the return of Matthew Marara, who had been absent due to corruption allegations. Matengarufu had temporarily taken Marara’s place during his absence but was demoted upon Marara’s return. He claimed that Marara had created a fictitious position and allocated himself a large sum of money, which sparked further controversy.

“There are matters within the council you should never tamper with if you want to live—land, appointments, water, procurement,” Matengarufu warned.

Matengarufu’s testimony lends weight to suspicions that Funny Machipisa, a former District Administration Manager who died mysteriously last year, was a victim of foul play related to the corruption within the council.

Before his death, Machipisa had expressed concerns about being targeted for opposing a move by councillors to allocate residential stands in affluent areas rather than in their respective wards. In a letter dated July 9, 2024, Machipisa revealed that he had been pushed out of his position to prevent him from testifying at the Commission of Inquiry.

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