By HRH Princess Eugene Majuru, Princess of Harare
Harare, Zimbabwe(News of The South)- Harare the vibrant heartbeat and capital city of Zimbabwe, is facing a multitude of challenges. These challenges have been in existence for more than 29 years and with nothing being done about it continues to get worse. We have got to a point where we need to soeak out as royal family of Harare and beacuse Harare is our heritage the Mbari clan. Special thought and solution seeking effort has been out into efforts to ensure we all live better lives in Zimbabwe but most of all as Mbari clan and descendant of King Mbari we should be able to enjoy our heritage and ancestral land.
From crumbling infrastructure to a struggling economy, the daily lives of Harare’s residents are often marked by hardship. While many factors contribute to these woes, a critical examination of how the city manages it’s resources is essential. One area that warrants serious scrutiny is the expenditure on high salaries within the Harare City Council. Could a strategic shift in financial priorities – cutting back on excessive remuneration for top officials and investing in job creation – offer a path towards easing the city’s burdens? I believe this is one solution which urgently needs looking into and taking immediate action. While this practice of poor managenent of the citys finances has been known for so many years it ends in cheao talk and no action being taken while the citys fat cats continue to fatten up. They fatten uo so much such that very little time is spent in offices or rsther working on resolving the city’s problems. Such selfishness cannot go unchallenged.
For too long, the perception of a disconnect between the leadership and the everyday realities of Harare’s citizens has persisted. While residents grapple with inadequate service delivery and limited economic opportunities, reports of exorbitant salaries and benefits for some within the City Council fuel public frustration. It is a legitimate question to ask whether these high levels of compensation are truly justified, especially when compared to the pressing needs of the city. Harare is the capital of Zimbabwe it is like the head of the train, if not screwed on properly the train cannot function well. Zimbabwe cannot prosper if Harare does not function well.
Imagine the impact if a portion of these funds, currently allocated to what some might consider excessive salaries, were redirected towards initiatives that directly benefit the broader community. Investing in job creation is a powerful way to inject life back into Harare’s economy. A lot of products and creations can be done in Zimbabwe thus reducing the reliance on importation of everything. Here’s how such a shift could make a tangible difference:
Boosting Local Employment: Funds could be channeled into supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are the backbone of any thriving economy. This could involve providing seed funding, mentorship programs, or infrastructure support to help local businesses grow and create much-needed jobs. Making simple products like soap, crafts, curios, fashionable African outfits for local and export market and many more.
Investing in Public Works: A portion of the redirected funds could be used to revitalize essential public services. This includes repairing roads, improving water and sanitation infrastructure, and investing in waste management systems – all of which can create employment opportunities while enhancing the quality of life for residents.
Supporting Skills Development: Investing in vocational training and skills development programs would equip Harare’s residents with the skills needed to secure meaningful employment. This would not only reduce unemployment but also contribute to a more skilled and productive workforce.
Promoting Entrepreneurship: Creating an environment that encourages and supports entrepreneurship can lead to the birth of new businesses and the creation of numerous jobs. This could involve providing access to affordable workspaces, simplifying business registration processes, and offering financial incentives for startups. Registering a business in Zimbabwe is currently very exoensive for no reason and is not encouraging especially for the unemployed, this results in millions of people conducting their business without registering and doesn’t help to build the economy.
The argument for reducing high salaries is not about devaluing the important work of public servants. Rather, it is about ensuring that public funds are used responsibly and effectively, prioritizing the needs of the majority. It’s about demonstrating a commitment to fiscal prudence and a genuine desire to uplift the entire community.
By making a conscious decision to trim the “fat” in the City Council’s expenditure and strategically reinvesting those savings in job creation initiatives, Harare could embark on a path towards sustainable development and a more prosperous future for its residents. This shift in focus would not only address the immediate economic challenges but also send a powerful message that the leadership is truly committed to serving the people and building a better Harare for all.
The time for bold and decisive action is now. By prioritizing job creation over excessive remuneration, the Harare City Council can take a significant step towards easing the woes of it’s citizens and building a city where opportunity thrives. There is so much potential in Harare but the sad situation is Zimbabweans cannot take advantage of the available opportunities like other countries who continue to surge forward and Zimbabwe has so much catching up to do. Harare city council fails to even maintain the very buildings they work from in Harare CBD good examoles are Cleveland House where they fail to do the simplest of tasks of painting. The fat cats of Harare city council mostly focus on enriching themselves buting each other expensive cars and appear not to know they are the city fathers. Theybare like parents who neglect their children, on that note Harare residents should keep knocking at vity council doors and put pressure on them to resolve the numerous problems.
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