Mounting criticism over executive perks at the City of Harare has added fresh weight to government efforts to crack down on local authorities accused of prioritising management benefits ahead of service delivery.
The controversy comes as Honourable Daniel Garwe, Minister of Local Government and Public Works, warned that councils and senior officials who continue to place salaries, allowances and administrative expenses above service delivery face severe sanctions, including suspension, dismissal and the downgrading of their municipalities.
The City of Harare has recently found itself at the centre of public scrutiny following allegations that former Town Clerk, Engineer Hosiah Chisango, received a termination package reportedly worth around US$30,000.
The local authority has come under fire for failing to publicly disclose the details of the settlement, fuelling speculation and public outrage.
The allegations have sparked debate among residents and civic groups who argue that local authorities should be directing resources towards improving essential services rather than funding executive benefits.
The criticism comes at a time when Harare continues to battle persistent service delivery challenges, including water shortages, deteriorating roads, erratic refuse collection and recurring sewer bursts in several suburbs.
Addressing local authority officials during the Local Authorities Performance Evaluation Feedback Session, Garwe said government would no longer tolerate councils that spend excessively on salaries, workshops, travel and management perks while residents suffer from declining services.
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“The structural decay in service delivery is directly tied to financial greed and misplaced priorities within your institutions,” said the Minister.
Garwe pointed to Statutory Instrument 69 of 2026, which requires local authorities to dedicate at least 70 percent of their revenue towards capital projects and service delivery, leaving no more than 30 percent for salaries and administration costs.
He warned that local authorities failing to comply with the directive risk having their budgets rejected by the Ministry.
The Minister also announced a raft of measures targeting underperforming councils, including the suspension of local and international travel, restrictions on workshops, written warnings and possible recommendations for the dismissal of Town Clerks, Chief Executive Officers and Mayors found to be neglecting their core responsibilities.
Residents’ associations have repeatedly questioned how councils continue to approve expenditure on management benefits while basic infrastructure remains in a state of disrepair.
Analysts say the controversy surrounding the former Harare Town Clerk’s exit package is likely to intensify public demands for greater transparency and accountability in local authorities, particularly regarding executive remuneration and the use of ratepayers’ funds.
As government tightens oversight of local authorities, attention is expected to focus increasingly on whether councils are complying with expenditure regulations and delivering value for money to residents.
With the Ministry now adopting a more aggressive stance on performance management, local authorities across the country face growing pressure to demonstrate that public resources are being directed towards improving services rather than sustaining executive privileges.