Harare, Zimbabwe – The City of Harare finds itself embroiled in yet another scandal, as its leadership steadfastly refuses to disclose the financial specifics of former Town Clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango’s exit package.
This deliberate obfuscation, cloaked under the guise of “employee/employer confidentiality,” has ignited a firestorm of criticism from residents and legal experts alike, who argue that public accountability must supersede private agreements when taxpayer funds are at stake.
The announcement by Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume at the 1,947th full council meeting in May, confirming a severance agreement with Eng. Chisango, was met with immediate demands for transparency. However, Harare City spokesperson Mr. Stanley Gama’s steadfast refusal to divulge the figures, citing confidentiality, has only fueled suspicions and outrage among ratepayers.
This stonewalling by the Harare City Council is particularly galling given the damning revelations from the Justice Maphios Cheda-led Commission of Inquiry. The Commission exposed that Eng. Chisango’s monthly salary and executive perks reportedly soared to an astronomical US$30,000 before a council-wide executive pay cut was implemented. The idea that such a figure could be shrouded in secrecy, especially after a period of suspension where he continued to draw a substantial salary, is an affront to every struggling Harare resident.
Legal analysts and residents’ watchdogs have been unequivocal in their condemnation of the municipality’s reliance on confidentiality clauses. They contend that statutory accountability mandates, enshrined in the Constitution, unequivocally override any private agreements when public funds are involved. Mr. Reuben Akili, director of the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), emphasized that local authorities are public institutions governed by the supreme law of the land, which demands absolute transparency.
“What needs to be understood is that the local authorities are public institutions and the funds of the local authority must then be managed or used in accordance with the Constitution of Zimbabwe. So the issues around transparency and accountability become very, very key,” Mr. Akili stated.
He further highlighted that Section 62 of the Constitution provides for the right to access information for public accountability, rendering any practice inconsistent with this provision invalid. “This practice of trying to hide behind the issues of confidentiality to then escape accountability is unacceptable. We need full disclosure on this end,” he asserted, urging residents to pursue legal avenues for full disclosure.
Echoing these sentiments, legal expert and former Justice Deputy Minister Mr. Obert Gutu underscored that municipal resources are public funds, granting ratepayers every right to know how their money is appropriated and utilized. While acknowledging the confidentiality of employer/employee contracts, Mr. Gutu stressed that there are clear limits to this principle when public funds are concerned. “We have to strike a balance between the interests of transparency and the principle of confidentiality where public funds are concerned,” he advised, sternly warning that confidentiality should never be used to mask irresponsible and wasteful usage of public funds. He concluded that the City of Harare is morally and legally obligated to fully disclose the severance package.
Another legal expert, Mr. Lenon Itai Rwizi, reinforced this position, noting that the use of public funds triggers legal obligations that the council cannot simply bypass through private contracts. The fact that Eng. Chisango reportedly earned over US$360,000 during the first 12 months of his suspension (September 2024 to September 2025) only amplifies the urgency and necessity for full transparency.
The City of Harare’s continued refusal to open its books on Eng. Chisango’s exit package is not merely an administrative oversight; it is a profound betrayal of public trust. It signals a disturbing disregard for constitutional mandates and the fundamental right of citizens to accountability from their elected and appointed officials.
The public deserves to know how its money is being spent, and no veil of secrecy, however artfully woven, can obscure this fundamental truth.