More than a thousand people had permission to mess with the city of Harare's money systems. Mayor Jacob Mafume addressed the issue during a council meeting, calling the situation chaotic. He confirmed the case is with the police and highlighted how the lack of a proper digital system lets employees exploit weaknesses for theft. A recent example involved five workers who allegedly stole a large sum from residents using fake accounts in just four days.
Mafume stressed the city government is public property, not a personal bank for staff. He blamed human factors for the ongoing theft, citing how individuals created unauthorized accounts and manipulated resident bills. The mayor warned that residents who conspired to pay less to the city would also face prosecution, stating the council has those records.
The solution, according to Mafume, is implementing a unified enterprise resource planning system. This integrated digital platform would combine accounting and other key functions to tighten controls. The goal is to reduce physical office visits and limit human intervention, shifting focus from corruption to actual city investments and housing projects.
Mafume stressed the city government is public property, not a personal bank for staff. He blamed human factors for the ongoing theft, citing how individuals created unauthorized accounts and manipulated resident bills. The mayor warned that residents who conspired to pay less to the city would also face prosecution, stating the council has those records.
The solution, according to Mafume, is implementing a unified enterprise resource planning system. This integrated digital platform would combine accounting and other key functions to tighten controls. The goal is to reduce physical office visits and limit human intervention, shifting focus from corruption to actual city investments and housing projects.
