News / National
Harare Residents Trust to petition parly for a probe of council projects
16 Nov 2016 at 07:40hrs | Views
The Harare Residents Trust (HRT) has said it will be writing a letter to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee, and the Auditor General to conduct an investigation into the operations of Harare Sunshine Holdings, with special focus on City Parking, Harare Quarry and Mbare Sunshine Bazaars where reports indicate that there is massive looting of funds by Councillors who sit on these boards and some of the managers.
The trust said one outstanding matter that has been brought to the attention of the Harare Residents Trust is the issue of two councillors Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi (Ward 19, Mabvuku) and Peter Moyo (Ward 13, Rugare and also Chairperson Business Committee) who travelled to Accra, Ghana from 17- 25 September 2016 allegedly to see how their investment as City Parking is progressing there.
"The two sit on the Harare Sunshine Holdings Board. What is worrying from this reported investment by Harare Sunshine Holdings through City Parking is that no details are available as to how they invested there, whether or not there was a council approval, how much was invested there and who are the managers of the parking business in Ghana. They were accompanied to Ghana by Alois Masepe, the Chief Executive Officer of Harare Sunshine Holdings and Mr Muzviyo, the General Manager of City Parking," said the trust.
"It is reported that there are also senior politicians involved in the deal, which has happened in secrecy, yet it is residents' money that created these entities in the fist place. Transparency and Accountability are critical on this matter."
The trust said it is suspected that this Harare Sunshine Holdings has become a source of funding for political parties and the extravagant lifestyles of a few elite Councillors, especially those who are called "Super Councillors" who are in the Business Committee, Finance and Development and Human Resources and General Purposes Committee.
"The HRT believes that the whole structure of business units, established during the era of former Town Clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi was specifically designed to shield these entities from public scrutiny. They are now semi autonomous, with separate boards, making them viable or bankable projects. Despite this fact they are not benefiting the City of Harare much as they are like private entities under the vie grip control of elite councillors purporting to be clever, yet primitively accumulating wealth through their shelf companies and relatives," said the trust.
"The information keeps flowing and we shall continue to make it known to the public, because Harare City Council is not a private enterprise but a public entity, which serves the public at local level, on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe. The HRT does not tolerate any organisation or individuals who misuse their power and authority in the pursuit of personal wealth and glory, at the expense of residents."
The trust said one outstanding matter that has been brought to the attention of the Harare Residents Trust is the issue of two councillors Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi (Ward 19, Mabvuku) and Peter Moyo (Ward 13, Rugare and also Chairperson Business Committee) who travelled to Accra, Ghana from 17- 25 September 2016 allegedly to see how their investment as City Parking is progressing there.
"The two sit on the Harare Sunshine Holdings Board. What is worrying from this reported investment by Harare Sunshine Holdings through City Parking is that no details are available as to how they invested there, whether or not there was a council approval, how much was invested there and who are the managers of the parking business in Ghana. They were accompanied to Ghana by Alois Masepe, the Chief Executive Officer of Harare Sunshine Holdings and Mr Muzviyo, the General Manager of City Parking," said the trust.
"It is reported that there are also senior politicians involved in the deal, which has happened in secrecy, yet it is residents' money that created these entities in the fist place. Transparency and Accountability are critical on this matter."
The trust said it is suspected that this Harare Sunshine Holdings has become a source of funding for political parties and the extravagant lifestyles of a few elite Councillors, especially those who are called "Super Councillors" who are in the Business Committee, Finance and Development and Human Resources and General Purposes Committee.
"The HRT believes that the whole structure of business units, established during the era of former Town Clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi was specifically designed to shield these entities from public scrutiny. They are now semi autonomous, with separate boards, making them viable or bankable projects. Despite this fact they are not benefiting the City of Harare much as they are like private entities under the vie grip control of elite councillors purporting to be clever, yet primitively accumulating wealth through their shelf companies and relatives," said the trust.
"The information keeps flowing and we shall continue to make it known to the public, because Harare City Council is not a private enterprise but a public entity, which serves the public at local level, on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe. The HRT does not tolerate any organisation or individuals who misuse their power and authority in the pursuit of personal wealth and glory, at the expense of residents."
Source - Byo24News
