HARARE City Council (HCC) is in the eye of a storm after it emerged that some top managers are ringing fencing corruption to protect some individuals accused of graft.
Most of the managers have reportedly outstanding hearing issues with town clerk Hosea Chisango accused of protecting them.
Acting chamber secretary, Warren Chiwawa, recently wrote a letter to acting human capital director, Mathew Marara, to start disciplinary hearing cases against its chief security officer, Collen Tongowona.
The letter was copied to Chisango.
However, the matter has developed into a cold case with no hearing or disciplinary hearing being held.
The letter to Chisango read in part: “Investigations have been completed, attached here are memorandum pertaining to the above listed charges. Can you arrange the necessary disciplinary hearings according to the available current statutory instrument."
Tongowona has also been accused of facilitating illegal transfers of workers within the municipal police.
Chiwawa refused to comment on the issue.
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“We don’t comment on such issues, this is a hot issue, you will get me fired, the town clerk is the best person to comment,” Chiwawa said
Sources, however, said Marara has been reportedly delaying to start the hearing of the cases protecting Tongowona.
“There is corruption at Harare City Council which is ring fenced with top brass and the corruption at the local municipality is being run professionally and some senior top managers are protecting their interest,” said a source at council.
Most of the senior managers have a hearing case but they are protecting each other..."
According to records, Tongowona allegedly rewarded Marara for continuing to protect him by offering a lucrative position to his Marara’s sister Blessing Marara, a lucrative position in the licensing department.
Netsai Mandebvu, who is related to Marara, was given a lucrative position in the licensing department at the Harare municipality.
James Marara, a brother to the council boss and his wife Netsai Mandebvu was also given a lucrative job in the licensing department.
Marara recently received a US$329 000 compensation for the period he was on suspension over corruption charges.
Chisango could not answer his mobile phone when contacted for comment
(HCC) spokesperson Mercy Makuwatsine directed all the questions to their head of communications Stanley Gama who said was in a meeting.
Harare residents Trust director Precious Shumba urged the newly elected Harare mayor, Ian Makone, to take action.
"Those who face tribunal proceedings should be charged and if found guilty,” he said
Combined Harare Residents Association director, Ruben Akili, said: "There should be a mechanism to fight corruption at Harare City Council."
