Harare City Council has been embroiled in a financial scandal, with revelations of excessive spending on utility workshops and conferences outside the city. An investigation by the Commission of Inquiry for Harare has uncovered a staggering ZiG230 million (approximately US$16 million) expenditure on workshops and conferences between December last year and July this year.
The most egregious example is the IPSAS policy validation and compliance meeting held at the Kadoma Hotel and Conference Centre, which cost ZiG154.6 million (close to US$11 million) and was attended by 177 officials. Just a week later, the council spent US$122,000 on a one-night risk-based audit plan 2024 event at the same hotel.
Furthermore, the city council spent US$2,300 on lunch for seven people at the Mayoral Mansion in Gunhill, Harare, on May 29, 2024. These extravagant expenses have raised concerns about the abuse of ratepayers’ money and the prioritization of allowances over essential services like burst pipe replacements.
The government has since banned the local authority from conducting workshops or training programs outside city limits without ministerial approval, citing rampant abuse of funds. The city’s acting finance director, Mr. Godfrey Kusangaya, struggled to explain the excessive spending when questioned by the evidence leader, Mr. Thabani Mpofu.
This exposé highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in local government spending to prevent the misuse of public funds.
