HARARE, Feb 5 (NewsDay Live) - Suspended town clerk Hosiah Chisango faces fresh corruption charges after eyebrows were raised over his recent acquittal for facilitating the awarding of a US$9 million streetlights tender to a company owned by Zanu PF- linked businessmen Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe
Chisango was charged alongside Arkims Mandaza, Denford Zhungu and Tawanda Mutenhabundo.
Only one Jabulani Mukomazi, who was part of the tender evaluation team, was indicted for trial at the High Court.
His trial commences on March 10.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission on Monday said Chisango had a case to answer.
"Zacc respects the position taken by the National Prosecuting Authority and acknowledges that it is the mandate of the prosecuting authority to institute and manage criminal prosecutions in Zimbabwe.
"The Commission, however, maintains that the accused persons are criminally liable for the fraudulent awarding of the tender and should defend their actions in court," Zacc said in a statement.
Observers told NewsDay the acquittal of Chisango and his accomplices raised serious concerns about the accountability and transparency of public officials, particularly in light of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act (PPDPA).
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According to section 14 of the PPDPA Act, the accounting officer, typically the town clerk or chief executive of a local authority, holds the sole responsibility for procurement within any public entity.
"This means that the town clerk, in this case, Chisango, should have been held accountable for any procurement irregularities," a City of Harare official said.
"However, it appears that the principal buyer has been left to face criminal charges, while Chisango walks free.
"One of the critical questions that remain unanswered is: if the principal buyer was solely responsible for procurement, whose request was it to change the scope of the eight awarded lots? If it was indeed the accounting officer, what powers does the principal buyer have regarding procurement processes?."
"The Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) even wrote to the City of Harare citing the flawed process."
Adding to the controversy is the role of public prosecutor Whisper Mabhaudhi, who has been handling multiple high-profile cases, including those against Chisango, another council official said.
"It is imperative that a thorough investigation is conducted, and those responsible are held accountable to restore public trust in the system,” a council official said.
"The people of Harare deserve transparency, fairness, and justice, and it is high time that these principles are upheld.
“The current Commission of Inquiry on the City of Harare should take up this matter, holding open proceedings to ensure transparency and public trust.”
It is alleged that in January 2024, the City of Harare embarked on a rehabilitation of street lighting along Harare roads in preparation for the 44th Southern African Development Committee Summit (SADC) held in August last year.
Juluka Endo Joint Venture, a company in which businessman Mpofu has a majority shareholding, was disqualified after failing to meet the tender requirements.
However, Chisango and Mandaza, working in connivance with their alleged accomplices, proceeded to unprocedurally award the tender of the remaining lots to Juluka End Joint Venture.
It is alleged that they awarded the tender to Juluka End Joint Venture, whose owners also own Synlak (Pvt) Ltd, a company which had been previously awarded a tender for a biogas digester in 2019 and failed to deliver.
