Suspended Harare town clerk faces fresh charges

Suspended City of Harare Town Clerk, Hosiah Chisango, is facing fresh corruption charges following concerns raised over his recent acquittal in a high-profile case involving the award of a US$9 million streetlights tender. The tender, which was controversially granted to a company linked to prominent Zanu-PF businessmen Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, has sparked intense scrutiny of Chisango's actions.

Chisango was previously charged alongside Arkims Mandaza, Denford Zhungu, and Tawanda Mutenhabundo, with the group allegedly facilitating the fraudulent awarding of the tender. However, only Jabulani Mukomazi, a member of the tender evaluation team, has been indicted for trial at the High Court. His trial is set to commence on March 10.

In response to the case, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) stated on Monday that Chisango still had a case to answer. In a statement, ZACC emphasized its respect for the National Prosecuting Authority's role in criminal prosecutions but reiterated its belief that Chisango and his co-accused were criminally liable for the fraudulent tendering process and should defend their actions in court.

While the acquittal of Chisango and his co-accused has raised serious concerns, particularly in regard to the accountability of public officials, the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act (PPDPA) has come under scrutiny. Under the PPDPA Act, the accounting officer of any public entity, such as the town clerk or chief executive, holds primary responsibility for procurement decisions.

A senior City of Harare official noted, "This means that Chisango should have been held accountable for any procurement irregularities. However, it appears that only the principal buyer faces charges, leaving Chisango to walk free."

The controversy deepened as questions arose regarding the actions that led to the change in the scope of the tender lots. According to insiders, the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) had raised concerns about the flawed procurement process, further fueling doubts about the transparency and fairness of the tender award.

The involvement of public prosecutor Whisper Mabhaudhi, who has handled several high-profile cases, including the one against Chisango, has also drawn attention. There are calls for a thorough investigation to ensure that all those responsible are held accountable and to restore public trust in the system.

A City of Harare official added, "The people of Harare deserve transparency, fairness, and justice. It is imperative that these principles are upheld, and that any wrongdoers are held accountable."

The case dates back to January 2024, when the City of Harare initiated a rehabilitation project to improve street lighting along major roads in preparation for the 44th Southern African Development Committee (SADC) Summit held in August 2024. Initially, the Juluka Endo Joint Venture, a company in which Mpofu holds a majority stake, was disqualified after failing to meet the tender requirements. However, it is alleged that Chisango, Mandaza, and their accomplices bypassed proper procedures and awarded the tender for the remaining lots to Juluka Endo Joint Venture, which also owns Synlak (Pvt) Ltd, a company that had previously failed to deliver on a 2019 biogas digester tender.

The ongoing investigation is likely to have significant implications for both Chisango and the broader public procurement process, raising further questions about the transparency and integrity of tendering systems within the City of Harare.