Bribery claims backfire for Harare commission

A Commission of Inquiry investigating the operations of the City of Harare has found itself embroiled in controversy after a private company, Quill Associates, demanded an apology following repeated bribery allegations made against it during the commission's hearings.

The commission, tasked with investigating corruption and mismanagement within the City of Harare, recently heard claims from a City of Harare official alleging that Mayor Jacob Mafume received a bribe of US$200,000 from Quill Associates in 2019. The company, which provided accounting software to the municipality, was accused of facilitating the bribe, which allegedly helped Mafume purchase a property at 9 Sky Master, Belvedere.

This accusation led to the commission seeking further details about Mafume's residence. Initially, Mafume told the commission that he lived in Belvedere, but later revised his statement, claiming he resided at number 110 Coronation Road in Greendale due to concerns for his safety.

On February 6, Quill Associates' Managing Director, D Van Heerden, sent a letter to Justice Maphios Cheda, the chairperson of the commission, formally requesting an apology and retraction of the bribery allegations. The letter expressed the company's deep concern over the unsubstantiated claims and emphasized the damage they had caused to Quill Associates' reputation.

"We are deeply troubled by the subsequent allegations made against our company, which appear to lack credible evidence and seem to be driven by factors unrelated to the facts of the matter," the letter reads. "While we do not seek to comment on the actions or conduct of His Worship the Mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume, we must emphasise that any false or unverified allegations implicating Quill Associates are unacceptable and damaging to our reputation."

The company has insisted that during their testimony, they provided empirical evidence to support their position and demonstrated the legitimacy of their business dealings with the City of Harare. Quill Associates is also requesting the commission to provide substantiated evidence for the bribery claim made by Tapiwa Godzi, the evidence leader of the inquiry, on February 4, 2025.

Quill Associates' letter further emphasized that its re-engagement with the City of Harare in 2024 was not initiated independently, but was based on the recommendations from the Auditor General's report, which highlighted systemic issues in the city's procurement processes. The company has urged the commission to focus on addressing these discrepancies and ensure impartiality in the investigation.

The situation has added fuel to growing concerns about the commission's credibility, as it faces accusations of shielding corrupt officials. Despite uncovering massive financial mismanagement and corruption within the City of Harare, the commission has been criticized for failing to take decisive action against officials involved in wrongdoing.

Observers have noted that some commission members seem to be aligned with the very individuals they are meant to investigate. One council official expressed concern that the commission is not focused on addressing urgent issues, but rather on ensuring that corrupt individuals remain in positions of power.

"The town clerk (Hosiah Chisango) and his so-called executive assistant (Matthew Marara) don't even have valid contracts yet they continue to operate with impunity," said the council official. "Instead of addressing these urgent issues, the commission seems more focused on ensuring that the same criminals who crippled the city remain in power."

Rumors are circulating within the City of Harare that certain commission members have been enticed with residential stands in exchange for their support. This has led to accusations that the commission is no longer impartial, and is instead enabling the corruption it was created to investigate.

"The people of Harare deserve more than just public hearings and reports that lead nowhere," another council official stated. "Unless the commission regains its credibility and takes swift, decisive action, it risks becoming just another smokescreen for corruption, enabling the looters to tighten their grip on power while the city crumbles."

As the commission continues its inquiry, the pressure mounts for both Quill Associates and the City of Harare's officials to address the allegations of bribery and corruption. With growing public dissatisfaction and calls for action, the commission's future effectiveness and reputation hang in the balance.