Harare mayor says he is a lodger paying US$2000 rent on US$95 wage
By Caleb Chikwawawa
Harare mayor Jacob Mafume says he rents accommodation in Greendale low density suburb where he pays US$2000 monthly rent despite getting a basic wage of just US$95.
Mafume revealed this while being grilled by the Commission of Inquiry that was set up by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to investigate Harare’s local governance issues since 2017. It is led by Retired High Court Judge, Justice Maphios Cheda.
Mafume told the Commission at a hearing at Makumbe Building in Harare on Tuesday that he bought a private home through proceeds from his job as a lawyer.
“I stay at the house that I bought for myself from my proceeds of legal practice. It’s in Belvedere,” said the mayor.
However, Mafume’s claims were immediately countered by the commission which said it had evidence that he stays at a different address instead.
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“You know that we can have an inspection in loco and go to number 9 Sky Master (his private home address) in Belvedere. You are not resident at number 9 Sky Master. Tell the truth, because we have evidence.
“You are lying that you are resident at number 9 Sky Master because you are actually building a complex there, to accommodate students from Harare Institute of Technology (Hit) University,” a Commissioner said.
The mayor admitted he moved out of his private property to pave way for some construction works aimed at turning it into a student accommodation as a form of business.
“I moved to Greendale this year in January, into a rented accommodation and I pay about US$2000 per month,” he said.
Mafume said he had the Mayor’s Mansion that he could move into but the giant structure was long turned into offices by council. He said his reason for not occupying it was that it was expensive to renovate the place and make it suitable for occupation.
He was allocated another house in Milton Park, Harare by council but he is not resident there either giving the reason that it is also in a dilapidated state.
The opposition politician added that he was receiving US$95 as a wage.
He said he was also not entitled to any security or domestic workers by council.
