By Darlington Gatsi
CITY of Harare (CoH) town clerk’s office has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that it is overseeing a parallel revenue collection unit responsible for funds from the municipality’s special business purpose vehicles.
The business development unit, which was previously part of the revenue collection unit, was transferred to the town clerk’s office under unclear circumstances.
Tsitsi Samapundo, who heads the business department at the CoH, is reportedly reporting directly to the town clerk regarding the municipality’s operations leaving, the revenue collection department in the dark about the amount of funds generated by the municipality’s business unit.
Appearing before the Commission of Inquiry recently, acting revenue collection manager, Albert Guni, said the arrangement was implemented to bring efficiency, despite his office being excluded from collating the profits.
“I am not aware of any resolution, but that does not mean it does not exist. The creation of the business development unit was meant to improve the efficiency of the business entities,” said Guni.
The CoH business unit oversees several income-generating ventures, including Harare Quarry, City Parking, and Sunshine Holdings.
These business entities have reportedly been failing to remit profits to the city council, despite generating funds through their operations. Town House officials are implicated in these unclear operations.
CoH officials have also been accused of leasing a portion of land at one of its business entities, Harare Quarry, to a private company.
Meanwhile, the municipality is being run by non-substantive executive officials, most of whom are in acting capacities.
Guni, who has been acting in his role for more than four years, told the probe team that many officials are serving in interim positions.
“What I have heard is that you are aware the finance director position is vacant. We also have an acting finance director. There are also many acting appointments within the city. This situation is not unique to me, but affects almost everyone,” said Guni.
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