Suspended City of Harare town clerk, Hosiah Chisango, continues to receive a hefty salary of US$27,000 along with other significant benefits, even though his contract has expired, sources have revealed.
During a full council meeting on Friday, councillors questioned human capital director Bosman Matengarufu over why Chisango and other top officials were still enjoying substantial perks while service delivery in the city remained in a dire state.
Blessing Muroyiwa, chairperson of the council’s housing committee, accused Matengarufu of withholding crucial information when asked to disclose the financial burden of executive salaries on the local authority.
“My question is, why do some individuals earn between US$15,000 and US$27,000 per month when the council claims to lack funds for essential services?” Muroyiwa enquired.
Matengarufu dismissed the claims of extravagant executive salaries, insisting they were exaggerated, yet he failed to produce a pay schedule to support his argument.
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“There is a team of councillors who engage with management, and the figures being circulated are not accurate,” he responded.
However, Harare mayor Jacob Mafume challenged Matengarufu’s statement, accusing him of dishonesty.
“I have the pay schedule, and it aligns with the commission of inquiry’s findings,” Mafume asserted. “How can one individual be earning US$27,000 per month, which amounts to US$270,000 in just 10 months?”
Mafume confirmed that he had obtained the salary schedule and intended to submit it to the commission of inquiry as evidence of how senior executives were draining municipal resources.
A source from Town House accused Matengarufu of working closely with senior officials, including Chisango and assistant town clerk Matthew Marara.
“Matengarufu is clearly aligned with top officials, which raises concerns about why he authorised payments for Chisango, whose contract has expired,” the source claimed.
In May last year, President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed a commission to investigate corruption and mismanagement at the municipality.
The commission has since completed its inquiry, and its findings and recommendations will be submitted to Mnangagwa for further action.
Several witnesses testified before the Justice Maphios Cheda-led commission, exposing how the city council was losing millions through corruption, poor administration, and revenue leakages.
Matengarufu, who appeared before the commission, claimed that his life was in danger due to his efforts to restore order within Harare City Council.
He alleged that his food had been poisoned on two occasions, seemingly in retaliation for his investigations.
Additionally, his office was reportedly broken into, and several documents implicating officials in corrupt activities mysteriously vanished.
