US$27,000 a Month! Harare Town Clerk’s Salary Sparks Outrage

As Harare residents endure deteriorating public services—including uncollected garbage, sewage overflows, faulty traffic lights, and unsafe drinking water—shocking details about the financial perks of the city’s leadership have come to light.

During a probe led by Retired Judge Justice Maphios Cheda, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume revealed that the city’s top executives collectively earn around half a million US dollars in salaries every month.

According to Mafume, the Town Clerk alone pockets a staggering US$27,000 per month.

“I requested a salary breakdown from the Human Resources director, but he initially refused, citing directives from the Town Clerk,” Mafume explained. “However, he later provided the information discreetly, and I discovered that the highest-paid executive earns US$27,000.”

Even the lowest-paid executive, he added, takes home at least US$15,000 monthly. When questioned by lead investigator Thabani Mpofu about whether these figures included benefits, Mafume confirmed they did not. Once allowances are factored in, some executives earn more than US$30,000 a month.

Justice Cheda pressed Mafume on why he had not acted to rein in these excessive salaries. In response, the mayor stated that council executives often remind him that he lacks the authority to interfere in financial matters, as his role does not include executive powers.

He also admitted that the relationship between city councillors and the management team remains strained, further complicating efforts to address Harare’s governance challenges.

Beyond salary concerns, the inquiry also examined broader governance failures. One key issue raised was the increasing number of service stations in residential areas, which Town Planning Director Samuel Nyabeza pledged to demolish due to safety risks.

Another alarming problem is the widespread failure of traffic lights, which has led to frequent accidents, some fatal. Despite the dangers, the City Council has yet to introduce a lasting solution.

With city executives drawing enormous salaries while services continue to decline, public outrage is mounting. Residents and civic groups are calling for urgent reforms to address mismanagement and improve service delivery.

As the Commission of Inquiry continues its investigations, Harare residents hope for accountability and real change. For now, the glaring contrast between the lavish earnings of city officials and the capital’s crumbling infrastructure highlights the deep-rooted governance crisis at the heart of Zimbabwe’s capital.

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