Harare residents criticize city council performance contracts

Residents argue that these contracts are ineffective in addressing persistent service delivery failures and that many officials at Town House do not merit their positions. Harare Residents Trust director Precious Shumba stated that only the director of health, Prosper Chonzi, deserves a renewed contract, citing the deterioration of service delivery across other departments due to what he described as incompetent and arrogant officials. Shumba specifically criticized the water and housing departments for unprofessionalism, negative attitudes, and officials allegedly working with land barons.

In response, councillor Jacob Mafume dismissed the allegations against him, stating that most senior staff were employed before his tenure as mayor and defended the city's recruitment process as rigorous, involving multiple interviews and security vetting.