HARARE- Zimbabwe’s former opposition leader Nelson Chamisa will testify before a commission investigating widespread corruption and service delivery failures at Harare City Council, Commission Chair Retired Justice Maphios Cheda announced today.

The commission summoned Chamisa to explain his Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party’s role in managing Zimbabwe’s capital during his leadership. The hearing is scheduled for next week in Harare (1000 GMT).

“We expect the former CCC leader to provide critical insights into the council’s operations under his party’s stewardship,” Cheda said in a statement to reporters.

Harare residents face daily water shortages, uncollected garbage, and crumbling roads as the commission probes allegations of corrupt land deals and mismanagement at Town House.

The CCC controlled most urban councils until recent political upheaval saw the party lose several seats. Party officials consistently blamed central government interference for service delivery problems.

“Local authorities have been deliberately starved of resources,” former CCC councilor James Manyara told the commission last week. “The central government retains too much control over council operations.”

Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana rejected these claims. “Opposition-led councils have consistently failed to account for allocated resources,” he said.

The commission will examine financial records, land allocation procedures, and service delivery patterns dating back five years. Its findings could influence future urban governance policies.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa established the inquiry in response to mounting public anger over deteriorating city services. The commission must submit its report by June 2024.

Local government experts say the probe’s outcome could reshape municipal governance. “This investigation will likely lead to significant reforms in how our cities are managed,” said Dr. Sarah Moyo, a public administration lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe.