Harare Town Clerk in court for criminal abuse of duty in street lighting tender scandal

TAKUDZWA HILLARY CHIWANZA

HARARE – Hosiah Abraham Chisango, the City of Harare Town Clerk, and Artkins Mandaza, a Principal Contracts Administrator employed by the City of Harare, have been arraigned before the Harare Magistrates' Court, facing charges of criminal abuse of duty following their arrest by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC). 

Hosiah Chisango. 

The state alleges that the accused persons conspired to improperly award a street lighting tender to Juluka Enndo Joint Venture, a company in which Moses Mpofu, who is currently in custody, is the majority shareholder. 

The accused persons are said to have disregarded an earlier decision to disqualify Juluka Enndo Joint Venture for failing to meet the bid requirements.

Furthermore, the accused persons are accused of awarding the tender to a company whose owners also own Synlak (Pvt) Ltd, a company that failed to deliver on a biogas digester tender awarded in 2019. 

This was in violation of the standard bidding document condition, which states that bidders with a poor record from previous City of Harare tenders are not eligible.

Acting in collusion with the evaluation committee, the second accused person, Artkins Mandaza, is alleged to have drafted the contract between the City of Harare, represented by the first accused, Hosiah Abraham Chisango, and the company represented by Moses Mpofu. 

This was allegedly done despite the fact that they had used an improper procurement method and without seeking an exemption from the Procurement Regulatory Authority.

Hosiah Abraham Chisango is also accused of writing to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, seeking an advance payment of the contract value of USD9,244,328.71, but the payment was not processed.

The accused persons will appear in court again on July 26, 2024, for the continuation of their bail application.