Tinotenda Hove – The Government has identified Bulawayo City Council (BCC) as a top priority for a potential Commission of Inquiry, amid growing concerns over widespread corruption and mismanagement within local authorities across Zimbabwe.

This action follows the recent launch of a Commission of Inquiry into the Harare City Council, with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works indicating that similar steps will be taken nationwide to improve governance standards.

“I do not know yet, but we have made the recommendation that we need to have a thorough investigation of all our urban local authorities because there is a lot of decay,” said Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe.

The Ministry’s spokesperson, Mr. Gabriel Masvora, confirmed that recommendations have already been submitted for the establishment of commissions of inquiry into all urban councils, including BCC.

He explained the legal process for launching such inquiries: “According to Section 2(1) of the Commission of Inquiry Act (Chapter 10:07), it is the prerogative of the President to appoint a Commission of Inquiry into the conduct of any officer in the Public Service.”

Masvora stressed that while the Ministry itself cannot launch inquiries, it has taken action by advising the President. “As the Minister of Local Government and Public Works alluded to during the handover of the report on Harare to His Excellency President Mnangagwa this (last) week, the ministry is generally worried about how most local authorities across the country are run,” he said.

“The ministry simply recommends to the President and as stated by Hon. Garwe, recommendations have been made aimed at having thorough investigations targeting all urban local authorities,” he added.

Bulawayo has become a particular focus following previous corruption scandals. Last year, Deputy Mayor Councillor Edwin Ndlovu and Finance Committee Chairperson Clr Mpumelelo Moyo were implicated in a case involving a US$20,000 “facilitation” fee allegedly solicited from a cement factory investor. Both councillors were arrested and later released on bail.

In the wake of the arrests, several land developers alleged a long-standing corrupt arrangement, claiming they were expected to surrender 10 percent of their contract value to city councillors.

Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA) chairperson, Mr. Winos Dube, expressed outrage over the revelations: “As residents, we were disappointed and disheartened that the very people we had entrusted with the running of the city’s affairs were the very people who were pulling it back.”