Harare City Council Employees Face Unpaid Salaries Amid Financial Strain

Harare City Council Logo (image source)

Hundreds of Harare City Council workers remain unpaid as September wages are delayed, raising alarms over public service stability. Liquidity challenges have pushed the council to prioritize lower-grade staff in partial payouts.

Mayor Jacob Mafume expressed frustration over the situation, insisting workers deserve timely compensation for essential, often hazardous duties.“Our workers perform life-threatening tasks. They deserve timely compensation,” he said.

The Zimbabwe Municipalities Nurses and Allied Workers Union (ZIMNAWU) declared a partial work stoppage—offering services only two to three days per week until salaries are disbursed.“This delay has severely impacted livelihoods and morale,” said union president Simbarashe Tafirenyika.

To cushion the shortfall, the council initiated a collection drive targeting commercial tenants and enforcing rent collections hard. But analysts warn that this approach fails to address root causes such as inefficient revenue systems and misaligned budgeting.“This reflects broader neglect by both local and central government,” added analyst Rashweat Mukundu.

Unpaid salaries threaten essential services such as healthcare, waste collection, and water supply. The Combined Harare Residents Association has urged urgent dialogue to prevent complete service collapse.

Zimbabwe’s municipal sector has been grappling with inflation, reduced central support, and rising operational costs—creating chronic funding gaps. Without systemic reforms—such as modernized billing, tax optimization, and fiscal integrity—the recurrent salary delays will likely re-emerge.