Harare City Council (HCC) has clarified that it spent only US$2.1 million on workshops this year, disputing allegations that the amount was US$11.2 million, as reflected in its official accounting records.
The claims were initially made by incarcerated HCC Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango, who told a Commission of Inquiry that over US$11 million might have been spent on workshops in the first seven months of 2024. However, no supporting documents were provided to substantiate this figure.
At a Full Council meeting on Thursday, Harare Mayor Advocate Jacob Mafume presented a financial statement detailing workshop expenses. He emphasized that the correct amount spent was US$2.1 million, mostly for internal staff programs. The records showed details of trips and workshops attended by councilors and officials from January to July 2024, with the amounts converted to US dollars from local currency by the Finance Department.
Mafume stressed that induction workshops are necessary after elections, especially given the new constitutional setup with 59 councilors, including 14 added through Proportional Representation. He clarified that most workshop expenses were related to employee collective bargaining sessions, and councilors themselves did not account for the bulk of the costs.
The Mayor criticized councilors for a lack of awareness of council affairs, urging them to be more informed to maintain public confidence. He also pointed out that HCC is struggling to fund basic services and would not waste money on unnecessary expenses.
Mafume concluded that the council is committed to transparency and urged stakeholders to rely on verified financial records rather than unsubstantiated claims.
