Leaked audit reveals how Council executives got up to $1.4 million in salaries as workers went unpaid

An audit report from the Ministry of Local government leaked to the media today reveals gross abuse of City of Harare finances by council executives on top salaries. The leaked audit dated 30 June 2016, bears a stamp from Local Government minister, Saviour Kasukuwere dated 7 July 2016, which indicates that the minister has been aware of the situation for at least four months.

The leaked audit reveals that as recently as June 2015, the top seven ranked officials at town house earned up to $21,000 per month each. In July 2015, the gross wage bill for the ‘big seven’ spiked, reaching $1,497,040 in that month alone. This figure exceeded the mandated wage bill by $1,434,040.

The ‘big seven’ are listed as Tendai Mahachi (then Town Clerk, later fired), Cainos Chingombe (Director Human Capital), Prosper Chonzi (Director of Health), Tendai Kwenda (Finance Controller), Josephine Ncube (Chamber Secretary, Acting Town Clerk), Philip Pfukwa (Director Public Works), and Christopher Zvobgo (Director Harare Water).