The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruptions Commission (ZACC) arrested Hosiah Abraham Chisango, the 54-year-old town clerk of Harare, and Artkins Mandaza, the 42-year-old principal contracts administrator of the City of Harare, on charges of criminal abuse of duty as public officers. They were then charged before the Harare Magistrates’ Court.
According to the State, the accused persons connived to procedurally award a street light tender to Juluka Enndo Joint Venture, company in which Moses Mpofu who is in custody is the majority share holder. Allegations are that in so doing the accused persons disregarded an earlier decision to disqualify Juluka Enndo Joint Venture for having failed to meet the bid requirements.
The accused persons awarded the tender to a company whose owners also own Synlak (Pvt) Ltd, a company which failed to deliver in biogas digester tender awarded in 2019. This was contrary to the standard bidding document condition which provides that bidders with bad records from previous City of Harare tenders were not eligible.
Acting in connivance with evaluation committee the second accused person drafted the contract between the City of Harare being represented by Moses Mpofu not withstanding the fact that they had used a wrong procurement method and without seeking exemption from the Procurement Regulatory Authority.
The first accused person then wrote to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works seeking an advance payment of the contract value USD9 244 328.71 but the payment not processed.
