Former Harare City Council officials in court for US$465K Mbare biogas tender fraud

ZIMSPHERE

HARARE – Two former senior City of Harare officials have appeared in court charged with criminal abuse of office involving a fraudulent US$465,290 tender award for the Mbare Biogas Project.

Phillip Mabingo Pfukwa (70), the former Director of Works, and Josephine Ncube (62), the former Chamber Secretary, were granted US$400 bail by Harare regional magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa.

They are accused of illegally awarding a contract to Synlak Investments (Pvt) Limited in 2015, despite the company failing to meet the tender requirements. 

The contract, which was meant to fund the construction of biogas digesters and a power generator for the city, was allegedly manipulated to benefit Synlak without the necessary approvals from the city’s procurement committees.

According to prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti the City of Harare received a €350,500 grant from the European Union in December 2013 to support the project. 

However, instead of following proper procurement procedures, Pfukwa and Ncube allegedly bypassed key adjudication processes and misrepresented information to push through the contract award to Synlak Investments.

Pfukwa, as the Director of Works, reportedly conducted the tender evaluation himself, contrary to the regulations requiring an independent review by the Town Clerk and the procurement committee. 

He allegedly recommended Synlak despite the company lacking the necessary experience in civil works and biogas projects.

Ncube, in her role as Chamber Secretary, allegedly worked in common purpose with Pfukwa, issuing an internal memorandum falsely asserting that Synlak met the tender conditions. 

The contract was eventually awarded on December 31, 2015, without oversight from the relevant committees, a violation of the Procurement Act and City of Harare regulations.

The court heard that following the fraudulent contract award, Synlak Investments received the full payment of US$465,290 from the City of Harare. 

However, investigations revealed that the company failed to deliver the agreed work, leaving the project incomplete and prejudicing the city.

The State further alleges that Pfukwa and Ncube knowingly acted against their official duties, with the intent of giving Synlak an unfair advantage. 

Their actions resulted in financial loss to the city and stalled progress on the biogas project, which was expected to provide an alternative energy source for Mbare.

The case is set to continue on April 14.