Harare, (New Ziana) -Harare mayor Jacob Mafume was on Tuesday fined USD$300 or 3 months in prison for lying under oath twice before the Retired Justice Maphios Cheda-led Commission of Inquiry into the governance of the local authority.

Mafume was accused of giving false information about his place of residence twice. After he first claimed to stay in Belvedere, where it was found out that he is turning the place into a boarding house to accommodate students from Harare Institute of Technology (HIT).

The Commission found that Mafume made extensive, unapproved renovations to convert the property into a commercial boarding operation, in clear violation of city zoning and construction laws.

Mafume was confronted with evidence that the structure on his property in Belvedere does not match the approved house plan on the file with the local authority, where, instead of a private home, he has constructed an unauthorized 60-room boarding facility.

Mafume also stated that he resided in Greendale suburb, providing a specific address on Coronation Road but when the Commission conduct an on-site inspection, the address turned out to be a vehicle auction site owned by one Pfukwa.

Despite the controversy surrounding his testimony, Mafume went on to expose the exorbitant salaries that the Council top executives are earning.

According to Mafume, council executives are collectively earning a staggering half a million United States dollars in monthly salaries.

He stated that the town clerk is earning an astonishing $27 000 per month, while the lowest-paid executive is taking home a handsome $15 000 per month.

Mafume added that the hefty salaries do not include any benefits, and with perks factored in, the total remuneration for the top executives could exceed $30 000 per month.

He expressed frustration at the lack of authority to curb the lavish spending of the executives, stating that they are quick to remind him that he is not an executive mayor, and therefore his power is limited.

New Ziana