Harare Officials Hide Luxury Cars Amid Service Concerns.
A probe revealed Harare City Council bought 13 luxury vehicles for top officials amid growing concerns over basic services. The fleet includes 12 Toyota Fortuner GD6 vehicles for directors and a Toyota Prado VX200 for the town clerk.
City procurement manager Never Murerwa faced tough questions at a commission hearing led by retired judge Justice Maphios Cheda. Evidence showed directors avoided driving their new vehicles to work, parking them away from Town House to avoid public attention.
"They park in distant lots and walk to the office," witness Joyce Shumba told the commission. "They know these vehicles should not have been a priority."
Murerwa deflected questions about the purchases, saying he lacked the authority to block them. When asked about the town clerk's Prado VX200, a model typically reserved for Cabinet ministers, he pointed to the human resources department.
"Your office approved a ministerial-level vehicle for someone at chief director grade," Shumba noted during questioning.
The hearing forms part of a broader investigation into alleged corruption at the council. Several officials have testified, including suspended town clerk Hosiah Chisango, acting finance director Godfrey Kusangaya, and city housing director Addmore Nhekairo.
The commission continues to examine claims of misused public funds and questionable spending practices by council leadership. Critics argue the luxury car purchases diverted money from essential city services.
A probe revealed Harare City Council bought 13 luxury vehicles for top officials amid growing concerns over basic services. The fleet includes 12 Toyota Fortuner GD6 vehicles for directors and a Toyota Prado VX200 for the town clerk.
City procurement manager Never Murerwa faced tough questions at a commission hearing led by retired judge Justice Maphios Cheda. Evidence showed directors avoided driving their new vehicles to work, parking them away from Town House to avoid public attention.
"They park in distant lots and walk to the office," witness Joyce Shumba told the commission. "They know these vehicles should not have been a priority."
Murerwa deflected questions about the purchases, saying he lacked the authority to block them. When asked about the town clerk's Prado VX200, a model typically reserved for Cabinet ministers, he pointed to the human resources department.
"Your office approved a ministerial-level vehicle for someone at chief director grade," Shumba noted during questioning.
The hearing forms part of a broader investigation into alleged corruption at the council. Several officials have testified, including suspended town clerk Hosiah Chisango, acting finance director Godfrey Kusangaya, and city housing director Addmore Nhekairo.
The commission continues to examine claims of misused public funds and questionable spending practices by council leadership. Critics argue the luxury car purchases diverted money from essential city services.
