Harare Town Clerk denied bail in street lighting tender scandal

ZIMSPHERE

HARARE – City of Harare Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango, 54, along with Artkins Mandaza, 42, Principal Contracts Administrator, has been denied bail by the Harare Magistrates' Court. The pair faces allegations of criminal abuse of duty concerning a controversial street lighting tender.

Both Chisango and Mandaza are scheduled to reappear in court on August 22, 2024.

According to the State, the accused unlawfully awarded a lucrative street lighting tender to Juluka Enndo Joint Venture, a company in which Moses Mpofu, currently in custody, holds a majority stake. 

This decision contravened a previous ruling that disqualified Juluka Enndo for failing to meet bid requirements.

The tender was allegedly granted to a company linked to Synlak (Pvt) Ltd, notorious for failing to deliver on a biogas digester project awarded in 2019. 

Such actions violated the standard bidding conditions, which bar bidders with poor performance records from previous City of Harare projects.

In collaboration with the evaluation committee, Mandaza allegedly drafted the contract between the City of Harare and the company, represented by Mpofu, using an improper procurement method without seeking necessary exemptions from the Procurement Regulatory Authority.

Further complicating the case, Chisango sought an advance payment of US$9 million from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, though the payment was ultimately not processed.