HARARE, Jan 31 (NewsDay Live) - The State has withdrawn charges on four top council officials who were facing allegations of awarding a tender worth US$9 244 328 for street lighting to Endo Joint Venture without following proper procedures.
Town clerk Hosiah Chisango and his alleged accomplices Josiah Never Murerwa, Denford Zhungu (69) and Tawanda Mutenhabundo (29) were facing charges of criminal abuse of office.
The four were members of the council's tendering evaluation committee.
Juluka Endo Joint Venture is owned by businessman Moses Mpofu, who along with business associate Mike Chimombe, is on remand prison awaiting trial on allegations of defrauding the government of over US$7 million meant for the Presidential Goat Scheme.
It is the State’s case that in January last year, the City of Harare embarked on the rehabilitation of street lighting in the central business district.
On January 29,2024, the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) granted a few specific exemptions to facilitate the expeditious completion of key project ahead of the SADC Summit held in August. On March 15, an invitation to tender for streetlight repairs was published in the Government Gazette and it was listed on the Procurement Regulatory Authority portal.
The court heard that 11 companies responded to the tender invitation but Juluka Endo Joint Venture was disqualified after failing to meet the tender requirements.
However, the quartet was alleged to have unlawfully awarded the tender of the remaining lots to Juluka Endo Joint Venture, disregarding the general procurement provisions which required the process to be done through a competitive bidding procedure.
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On Friday, the State without giving reasons, withdrew the charges before plea.
