Residents Demand Disclosure of Ex-Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango’s Severance Payout

By Staff Reporter

Harare residents and legal experts are intensifying calls for the City of Harare to publicly disclose the financial details of the separation agreement reached with former Town Clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango, arguing that public accountability must take precedence over confidentiality claims.

The demands come after Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume confirmed during a recent full council meeting that the municipality had concluded a severance arrangement with Eng Chisango following his departure from the local authority.

Also Read: The Dismissal Of Former Harare Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango’s Case Raises Concerns About The Judiciary System

Secrecy Sparks Public Concern
Despite confirming that an agreement had been reached, council officials have declined to reveal the amount involved.

City spokesperson Stanley Gama said the details could not be made public because they formed part of a confidential employer-employee arrangement.

The refusal has triggered criticism from residents and governance advocates, who insist that any payment involving municipal funds should be subject to public scrutiny.

Questions surrounding the package have been amplified by previous revelations that Eng Chisango was among the highest-paid local authority executives, reportedly earning a monthly package of about US$30 000 before executive salaries were reduced.

Residents Demand Accountability
The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has urged council to release the information, arguing that local authorities are custodians of public resources and are therefore obligated to operate transparently.

CHRA director Reuben Akili said the Constitution places a legal responsibility on public institutions to provide information necessary for accountability.


According to Akili, residents have a legitimate interest in understanding how municipal funds are being spent, particularly in cases involving senior executives. He indicated that residents’ groups were prepared to use available legal channels to obtain the information if council continued to withhold it.

Legal Experts Weigh In
Legal commentators have also challenged the municipality’s position, saying confidentiality provisions cannot be used as a blanket shield when public money is involved.

Former Deputy Justice Minister Obert Gutu said ratepayers have a right to know how municipal resources are being utilised because those resources are derived from public contributions.

While acknowledging that employment contracts generally contain confidential elements, Gutu argued that transparency becomes paramount when public funds are used to finance severance agreements.

He warned that confidentiality should not be invoked to conceal potentially wasteful or questionable expenditure and said the municipality has both a legal and ethical obligation to provide clarity.

Legal expert Lenon Itai Rwizi echoed similar sentiments, maintaining that the involvement of public funds creates disclosure obligations that cannot simply be overridden by private contractual arrangements.

Focus on Cost to Ratepayers
The debate has also renewed attention on the financial burden associated with the former Town Clerk’s suspension and eventual departure.

Reports indicate that during the first year of his suspension, from September 2024 to September 2025, Eng Chisango continued to receive remuneration exceeding US$360 000.

With Harare residents facing persistent service delivery challenges, pressure is growing on city authorities to demonstrate that public funds are being managed responsibly and transparently.