The Harare City Council (HCC) has dismissed senior manager Mathew Marara following a disciplinary hearing that found him guilty of multiple offences, including unlawfully promoting himself and failing to report for duty.
Marara, who previously served in high-level roles such as the executive assistant to the town clerk and acting housing and social development director, was at the centre of investigations into financial irregularities and management issues at the city’s Town House.
In a dismissal letter dated March 11, 2026, and signed by acting town clerk Phakamile Mabhena, the council confirmed that Marara’s termination was effective from November 24, 2025, the date he was originally suspended without pay.
The firing was carried out under Statutory Instrument 15 of 2006 after a trial chaired by an independent authority, Mr. C.W. Gumiro, found him guilty on four counts of serious misconduct.
Among the charges, Marara was found to have provided inappropriate or wrong advice to a council committee regarding the legal requirement to seek Local Government Board approval for senior appointments.
He also facilitated the unauthorised appointment of three senior employees, including himself, to high-ranking positions, which resulted in the group receiving unauthorised benefits totaling ZiG 4,111,168.88 and US$18,362.05.
The disciplinary board concluded that Marara breached evaluation processes by referring executive salary reports to an employment council that had no jurisdiction over those positions.
He was found guilty of being absent from work for more than five working days without leave or reasonable cause after he stopped reporting for duty in early November 2024.
Marara was represented during the hearings by Lunga Mazikana Attorneys, and the council has indicated it will process and pay his terminal benefits.
The dismissal followed revelations from a January 2025 commission of inquiry where it was disclosed that Marara had been receiving a monthly salary o US12,000 while under a separatesuspension forthreeyears.
During that period, he also received housands of dollars in perks, including US8,000 for electronic gadgets and US$3,256 for newspaper subscriptions. Marara was first suspended in 2020 alongside other officials during his tenure as housing director.