Harare City Council earns a mere US$80 monthly per billboard, yet advertising companies charge up to US$2,000. Mayor Jacob Mafume exposed this vast discrepancy and alleged systemic fraud by finance officials at a full council meeting last week.
Despite the sprawling presence of thousands of billboards hawking everything from mobile plans to political slogans across the city, the council collects an insignificant fraction of potential revenue. Officials revealed that advertising space in a single stadium alone could generate nearly US$500,000 monthly, yet current collections remain minimal.
The root of the problem lies in the city’s failure to maintain an accurate register of its billboard inventory, which reportedly exceeds 5,000 structures. Unregulated billboards clutter intersections, obstruct views, and evade oversight, contributing to urban decay while draining the council’s revenue base. This lax regulation allows advertising firms to erect billboards without permits and remit only a fraction of the fees owed.
In a fiery confrontation at Town House, Mayor Mafume accused finance officials of deliberately sabotaging efforts to improve collections, citing resistance to a centralized enterprise resource planning (ERP) system designed to track billboard structures and enforce payments. “No one wants a system because they are getting rich without a system,” Mafume declared, calling upon the business, works, and finance departments to conduct immediate audits and deploy enforcement teams to clamp down on defaulters.
Council accountant Benjamin Nhukarume acknowledged the problem, admitting revenues were “not clear” and “insignificant,” sparking outrage in the chamber. Previous audits had already estimated annual losses in the millions, money that could significantly improve water services, roads, and sanitation in a city struggling with blackouts and potholes.
The scandal highlights wider governance challenges in Zimbabwe’s largest municipality. Past corruption allegations have ousted previous officials and eroded public trust. Mafume’s push for digital audit tools signals a pivot toward transparency and aligns Harare with global standards in revenue management. However, previous reform efforts foundered due to committees citing “phantom costs,” leading to speculation that entrenched interests are blocking progress.
The timing of this crackdown is critical. Harare’s 2025 revenue target of US$600 million is at risk due to revenue leakages exceeding 30%. Success in addressing billboard fraud could set a precedent for better management of other revenue streams such as parking fees and property rates, helping restore fiscal stability. Failure could deepen reliance on central government bailouts and fuel discontent among ratepayers burdened with inflated service charges.
Timeline
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Dec. 4, 2025: Full council meeting at Town House, Mayor Mafume confronts finance officials; Nhukarume admits negligible billboard revenue.
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Dec. 5-6, 2025: Departments tasked with auditing billboards; digital system rollout faces internal delays.
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Dec. 7, 2025: Media outlets The Standard and Business Daily report on fraud accusations and revenue losses.
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Dec. 8, 2025: TechMagZW posts video of Mafume’s tirade, sparking widespread online attention.
Key Players
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Jacob Mafume: Harare Mayor, leading anti-corruption reforms and demanding ERP system implementation.
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Benjamin Nhukarume: Council accountant, confirmed poor revenue collection transparency.
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Finance Department Officials: Accused of enabling fraud and resisting accountability tools.
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Billboard Operators: Anonymous firms benefiting from unregulated advertising spaces.
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City Councillors: Stunned by revelations, with prior opposition to digital tracking citing cost concerns.
