Harare Town Clerk Under Fire for Overseeing a Parallel Revenue Collection Unit
City of Harare’s Financial Transparency Questioned
The office of Harare’s Town Clerk is currently under intense scrutiny following revelations of a parallel revenue collection unit operating under unclear circumstances. The unit, known as the Business Development Unit, which was once part of the revenue collection department, was inexplicably moved to the town clerk’s office. This change has resulted in a lack of transparency regarding the municipality’s financial operations, leaving critical revenue collection departments in the dark about profits generated by city business ventures.
Albert Guni, the acting revenue collection manager, highlighted this issue during a Commission of Inquiry session, stating that his office was intentionally excluded from consolidating profits. Guni, who serves in an acting capacity for over four years, said, “I am not aware of any resolution, but that does not mean it does not exist. The creation of the business development unit was meant to improve efficiency.” However, this decision has only fueled suspicions of financial mismanagement within the council’s operations.
Unaccounted Revenues from City Business Entities
The Business Development Unit manages several profitable city entities, such as Harare Quarry, City Parking, and Sunshine Holdings. Despite these entities generating significant revenue, there are reports suggesting that the profits are not being remitted back to the city council. This financial opacity has prompted calls for accountability from various stakeholders, including local residents and council employees.
Moreover, allegations of land leasing arrangements between CoH officials and private companies, specifically at Harare Quarry, have further exacerbated the issue. Critics argue that such deals compromise public interests and raise serious governance and corruption concerns.
Leadership Instability in the City Council
Harare’s local government is also grappling with leadership instability, as many key positions remain unfilled or are held on an acting basis. This includes critical roles such as the Finance Director, which remains vacant. Such instability has hindered strategic planning and financial accountability within the council. Residents and experts are calling for urgent intervention to stabilize leadership roles and ensure the municipality’s operations are managed with greater efficiency and transparency.
Reuben Akili, Director of the Combined Harare Residents Association, strongly criticized the council’s financial priorities. He highlighted a stark contrast between luxury purchases for senior officials and neglected infrastructure projects. Akili stressed that council funds should focus on public service infrastructure development rather than extravagant spending.
Calls for Government Intervention
Activists and residents are now urging the government to step in and address these financial discrepancies. The Harare Residents Trust has called for council officials to demonstrate transparency, urging them to publicly report business profits and drive council operations with greater accountability.
Local governance reform advocates point out that service delivery in areas such as refuse collection, water supply, and sewer management has deteriorated, which only underscores the misallocation of resources within Harare City Council. Calls for practical reforms are growing, as residents demand accountability from council officials and seek visible improvements in infrastructure and services.
Conclusion
The revelations about the parallel revenue collection unit and leadership instability within Harare City Council highlight ongoing issues of financial mismanagement and corruption. While officials like Albert Guni attempt to address efficiency, transparency remains a significant issue. There is an urgent need for government intervention and reform, as residents and local governance experts push for a more transparent, accountable, and service-oriented council leadership.
Authorities must address these issues to restore public trust and ensure that council revenues contribute positively to Harare’s infrastructure and public services rather than fueling internal discrepancies and questionable financial practices.
