AGG threatens Bulawayo mayor with unspecified action

The Affirmative Action Group (AAG) in Bulawayo has issued Bulawayo mayor Martin Moyo a 72-hour ultimatum to respond to reports of alleged widespread tender irregularities involving his council or face unspecified action.

AAG said it was irked by reports that contracts with a combined value of about $8,7 million were re-tendered or extended after winning companies either disappeared or failed to complete projects.

The petition dated July 13 accuses the council of being "agents of disempowerment in the region".

"As an empowerment organisation, this took us aback to the level to which incompetency and apparent corruption have entrenched themselves into the system," read part of the petition.

"Of great concern is the fact that City of Bulawayo has been the foremost agent of disempowerment in the region, through litigation matters often leading to property attachment and auction," the group said.

 "We have received numerous reports by companies, with operational capacity, tendering with the City of Bulawayo who have not been successful, though awards are made to companies who go on to either carry out substandard work or fail to complete assigned projects.

"It boggles the mind as to why and how City of Bulawayo can proceed to inadvertently write off funds paid out in exchange for undelivered products and services.

"Plus or minus $8 million is a considerable amount for the City of Bulawayo to ignore, which then brings up suspicions of corruption."

The group said the mayor should personally ensure that the lost money is recovered.

"We are, therefore, hereby strongly advising you, as a senior custodian of the city's affairs, to take a personal interest in this matter and ensure justice is served in terms of recovery of the money and bringing perpetrators of the injustice to book," AAG said.

"We look forward to a positive response within 72 hours, after which we, as an organisation, will take unspecified action to mitigate these issues."