HARARE, Aug. 19 (NewsDay Live) — The Harare Residents’ Trust (HRT) has called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to release and implement the findings of the Justice Maphios Cheda Commission of Inquiry, saying the report could help address governance and financial problems at Harare City Council.
The call comes more than a year after Mnangagwa received the commission’s final report in June 2025, with the document yet to be made public.
Mnangagwa appointed the five-member commission in May 2024 under Section 2(1) of the Commissions of Inquiry Act [Chapter 10:07] to investigate governance issues at the capital’s local authority dating back to 2017.
Its mandate included examining financial management, compliance with public finance and procurement laws, revenue management, the council’s failure to implement an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and the management of council properties.
The inquiry examined allegations of losses running into millions of United States dollars, weak oversight of council business units and irregularities surrounding the allocation and sale of residential stands.
In a social media statement Tuesday, HRT said releasing the report was necessary to provide closure on allegations raised during the inquiry and ensure that anyone found to have acted unlawfully was held accountable.
“The report of the Commission of Inquiry by Justice Maphios Cheda into the financial management in the City of Harare will settle a lot of issues afflicting the City of Harare today,” HRT said.
The residents’ body said the report contained evidence submitted by various stakeholders, including then Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango, executive assistant Matthew Marara, then acting human capital director Bosman Matengarufu, senior council officials and councillors.
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HRT said the inquiry had exposed alleged irregularities involving the procurement of the city’s ERP system and the purchase of residential stands, among other issues.
“The rot went deep and high, and needs closure, with culprits held accountable,” it said.
The residents’ body called for anyone implicated in the commission’s findings to be subjected to due process and, where evidence supports criminal wrongdoing, prosecuted before competent courts.
“Whoever was implicated in the Commission of Inquiry should be thoroughly investigated, and if found guilty by a competent court, they should be jailed without hesitation,” HRT said.
Concerns over the continued withholding of the report were also raised in October last year, with calls for government to make its findings public.
The commission was established against the backdrop of years of deteriorating service delivery in Harare, including persistent challenges in water provision, waste management, road maintenance and financial administration.
