Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has come out swinging against allegations that the City of Harare is splashing a staggering US$600,000 to buy back its spot in the country’s elite football tier.
Rumors have been swirling that the municipality reached a deal with newly promoted Hunters FC to acquire their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) status, effectively fast-tracking the return of Harare City FC—the “Sunshine Boys”—to the top flight.
Budgetary Defense: The 7% Directive
Responding to the outcry on X (formerly Twitter), Mayor Mafume denied the massive price tag while clarifying how the council funds its sporting ventures. He emphasized that money for the football club does not bleed from essential service budgets, such as water or refuse collection.
“We have not paid those amounts. We already have a football club. We have been in the Premier League before; amounts used for sports are budgeted for those purposes and not taken from another budget line,” Mafume stated.
The Mayor further noted that the central government has directed local authorities to allocate 7% of their budget specifically toward sports and recreation, justifying the continued existence of the club despite the city’s glaring service delivery gaps.
The “Swap and Top” Strategy
While Mafume denied the $600k figure, he did not shut the door on a return to the PSL. Insiders suggest the council is pursuing a more “creative” financial arrangement. Reports indicate a “swap and top” deal is on the table, where:
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Harare City FC would hand over its current Northern Region Division One slot to Hunters FC.
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The council would provide a cash “top-up” (significantly lower than the rumored $600k) to Hunters FC.
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Hunters FC, reportedly facing a financial crisis that makes top-flight football unsustainable, would retreat to the lower division with a healthier bank balance.
Residents Fuming Over Unpaid Salaries
The news of a potential franchise purchase comes at a sensitive time for Town House. Municipal workers have been threatening industrial action over unpaid salaries for November and December 2025, with local currency arrears reportedly ballooning to ZiG 9 billion.
For many residents, the optics of “buying” soccer success while taps run dry and workers go hungry are disastrous. Harare City FC was relegated in 2022 and has been a point of contention for years, with critics arguing the club is a “black hole” for public funds that could be better spent on road repairs or clinic supplies.
A Daunting 2026 Season?
If the deal is ratified by the full council, the Sunshine Boys won’t have an easy ride. The draft 2026 fixture list suggests a brutal opening run against league heavyweights like MWOS FC, Simba Bhora, and the reigning champions Scottland FC.
Whether the fans will welcome the team back with open arms or protest the expenditure remains to be seen. In the world of Zimbabwean football, the drama off the pitch is often just as intense as the action on it.
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