Council in bond paper scandal

Karoi Town Council is at the centre of a damning procurement scandal after it emerged that the local authority ordered safety equipment worth US$1,100 but instead received bond paper in what lawmakers suspect was an attempt to cover up misappropriation of public funds.

The revelation came during a Parliamentary session on Tuesday as the Public Accounts Committee presented findings from Karoi Town Council's audited 2020 financial accounts. The committee flagged serious irregularities, including what it described as a deliberate misuse of funds.

According to the report, the council placed an order for an extension ladder and 84 safety harnesses on November 29, 2018. However, the equipment was never delivered. Instead, on April 8, 2019, the supplier delivered just 48 reams of bond paper, claiming they lacked the capacity to supply the original order.

"The cost of the bond paper does not match the US$1,100 paid. The committee believes the arrangement was likely a cover-up for misappropriation," the report stated.

No documentation was provided authorising the substitution, and the significant discrepancy in value was not accounted for, further raising suspicions.

Mashonaland West Member of Parliament Mutsa Murombedzi (CCC) condemned the transaction, saying: "This is not just an accounting error but this is theft, and let us name it as such."

The committee recommended that the matter be urgently referred to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) for a full investigation, with a deadline set for June 30, 2025.

The report also uncovered other worrying financial practices at the council, including the non-delivery of a refuse truck procured from Solution Motors - a company with a known track record of failing to deliver vehicles to public institutions after receiving payment.

In response, the committee proposed that Solution Motors and any future rebranded versions of the company be permanently blacklisted from supplying vehicles to any government or public institution.

In another disturbing finding, Karoi council was reported to be running a beerhall entirely on a cash basis - with no tills, no formal banking procedures, and no financial records, opening the door to unchecked leakages and potential theft.

The revelations paint a picture of deep-rooted financial mismanagement and weak oversight at Karoi Town Council, with Parliament now pressing for strong punitive and corrective measures to restore accountability.

As calls grow for enforcement action and reform, all eyes are now on ZACC and the Ministry of Local Government to act on Parliament's recommendations and bring those responsible to justice.