420924061923305f12a47520240928064824778 beie:beie director@blueeyesintelligence.orgWEB-FORM International Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering IJITEE 22783075 10.35940/ijitee https://www.ijitee.org/ 09 30 2024 13 10 Department of Public Administration, Zimbabwe Open University, Julius Nyerere Way, Harare, (Zimbabwe) Southeast Africa. Dr. Amos Muguti Dr. Chipo Mutongi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3542-2580 Department of Management Sciences, Midlands State University, Harare, (Zimbabwe) Southeast Africa. Dr. Cainos Chingombe Department of Human Capital Management, Women's University in Africa, Canonbury Junior School, Julius Nyerere Way, Harare, (Zimbabwe) Southeast Africa. In municipal governance, the potential for transformational leadership is often stifled by various factors that hinder local leaders from embracing innovative practices and driving meaningful change. This article delves into the key obstacles that impede municipal leaders from evolving into transformational figures who can inspire their communities and foster progressive development hence examined the factors that hinder municipal leaders from becoming transformational leaders with special reference to the City of Harare. The study focused on local authorities due to their impact on the social, economic and political development of the country as they provide core service at a local level. The study population was made up of five hundred (500)people in Council leadership positions and a sample of 60 participants was drawn. The findings revealed that autocratic leadership was the most used leadership style. Factors that hinder municipal, leaders to become transformational leaders brought about by the finding included lack of knowledge and qualifications, corruption, bureaucracy, economic challenges, politics at the expense of service delivery and silo mentality. It was recommended to take a leaf from the Eagle Intelligent Transformation Strategy and propose Muguti’s Diamond Transformational Leadership Model. A functional organisational culture is called for where Ubuntu is practiced. 09 30 2024 28 38 CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 10.35940/BEIESP.CrossMarkPolicy www.ijitee.org true International Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering (IJITEE) Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP) Based on my understanding, this article has no conflicts of interest. This article has not been sponsored or funded by any organization or agency. The independence of this research is a crucial factor in affirming its impartiality, as it has been conducted without any external sway. The data provided in this article is exempt from the requirement for ethical approval or participant consent. The adequate resources of this article are publicly accessible. The authorship of this article is contributed equally to all participating individuals. 10.35940/ijitee.J9969.13100924 https://www.ijitee.org/portfolio-item/J996913100924/