City Parking officials were yesterday accused of working in cahoots with street vagrants to extort money from motorists during public hearings convened by the Commission of Inquiry into Harare City Council operations.
During the hearings, the commission, being chaired by former High Court Judge Justice Maphios Cheda, heard that service delivery across many sectors had deteriorated to alarming levels.
Witnesses testified that water shortages, uncollected garbage, potholed roads, dysfunctional street lights and haphazard settlements had now become the new normal in the capital city.
Following repeated petitions from residents, President Mnangagwa appointed the commission to investigate Harare City's operations since 2017, with the aim of addressing the challenges bedevilling the city.
City Parking in particular, came under the spotlight with motorists accusing parking marshals of extortion.
Managing director Mr Simon Muzviyo conceded that City Parking had received numerous complaints.
"We have heard such allegations and we have been working to investigate the issues. They remain allegations until we conclude investigations.
"We also have free toll lines motorists can call if they have issues," he said.
Mr Muzviyo, who is set to appear before the commission again next week, was tasked with providing a breakdown of salaries of top management.
A ward 17 resident, Ms Carol Margaret Peace, came out guns blazing, attacking the city officials for letting down residents.
"The city is failing to collect garbage. There are no street lights and the issue of sewage is another big problem in Harare, which is exposing people to health hazards.
"There is a deterioration in terms of service delivery compared to the past. The city council's planning is deeply flawed because residents are not being informed," she said.
Ms Peace said petrol stations were sprouting everywhere, especially in residential areas, and this was a cause for concern.
The commission has been tasked to investigate financial management systems and audit compliance with the Public Finance Management Act and other laws and investigate financial management of revenue generated through special vehicle companies and other out-sourced arrangements.
Other terms of reference are to investigate reasons behind the failure to operate an enterprise resource planning system for Harare City Council and quantify any losses accruing as a result, investigate and ascertain the procedures of management, sales, leases of other transfers of the city council's properties to private entities.
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The commission will also probe the convening of council meetings as well as adherence to the standing orders and rules in council meetings by Harare City Council and investigate compliance with procurement laws, inclusive of disposal of assets and compliance with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act.
The commission will also make visits where necessary, summon witnesses, record proceedings, minute testimonies and documents, consider and manage all information gathered in order to arrive at appropriate findings and recommendations to the President.
It will also investigate anything else that the commission deems appropriate and relevant to the inquiry.
Besides Justice Cheda, the other four members of the commission are Steven Chakaipa, Norbert Phiri, Lucia Gladys Matibenga and Khonzani Ncube.
The Permanent Secretary for Local Government and Public Works, Dr John Basera, was appointed secretary to the commission, meaning it can access the administrative backing of the ministry.
