HARARE City Council (HCC) acting human capital director Matthew Marara has received a US$329 000 compensation for the period he was on suspension over corruption charges.
Marara was the city’s housing director and was suspended in 2020 over corruption allegations involving residential stands. He was suspended alongside other top HCC officials among them Edgar Dzehonye and Tonderai Mukora from the Survey Section.
Sources at Town House claimed that there was no council resolution to compensate as the local authority was currently struggling to pay its workers.
“Marara was awarded about US$329 000 for the almost three years he was on suspension, but the issue is that he had resigned through an email so he was not supposed to get that money,” said the source.
HCC deputy mayor Kudzai Kadzombe confirmed the development to NewsDay yesterday, but could not confirm the amount paid.
Noting that Marara was entitled to the benefits since he was suspended without his dues, she said: “Unlike other managers he was on suspension for almost three years without his dues. When he returned to work his dues were calculated, but, I am not aware of the amount (he was paid). But we don’t pay in foreign currency at Harare City Council. Our employees only get a US$50 component. So, getting US$329 000, I am not aware of that figure. Marara could not be reached for comment yesterday as his mobile number went unanswered.
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