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Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
SUSPENDED Harare Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango and Artwell Mandaza, the principal contracts administrator, spent the weekend in jail after their bail ruling was deferred to tomorrow.
The State is opposing bail on the grounds that the two are a flight risk and are likely to interfere with witnesses.
Chisango and Mandaza are facing criminal abuse of office charges in a matter pertaining to the US$9 million street lights tender scandal being heard before Harare magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa.
Appearing for the State, Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti called a witness, the investigating officer Owen Mutembwa, who said Chisango worked with some of the witnesses and was therefore familiar with them.
This, the State contended, could jeopardise investigations.
“The first accused person is the accounting officer for the City of Harare and is a principal to our witnesses,” said Mr Mutsokoti.
He also said Chisango attempted to conceal some of the tender documents during investigations.
Mutembwa told the court that he was informed by employees at the procurement management unit, a division under the City of Harare, that after learning that there were investigations into the case, Mandaza took away the file of the proceedings which has not been recovered.
“I have reasonable suspicion that Mandaza knows where the missing file is,” said Mutembwa.
He said the two were not proper candidates for bail and their release was likely to disturb public order.
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Bongani Ndlovu