CCC accused of benefiting from council shady deals

Herald Reporter

officials are allegedly interfering with the operations of City of Harare subsidiaries, including Rufaro Marketing with its vast property portfolio, pocketing money for personal use, town clerk Hosiah Chisango said yesterday.

Chisango, who is remand prison on charges arising from the US$9 million street lights tender, was brought under guard from his jail cell to give evidence to the Commission of Inquiry for Harare City Council.

Giving evidence before the commission led by Retired High Court Judge, Justice Maphios Cheda, Chisango exposed massive underhand dealings at Rufaro Marketing.

Chisango, who was guarded by three prison guards, while giving evidence admitted that there was no agreement between Harare City Council and Rufaro Marketing which owns the premises of over 130 former council bars as it is on autopilot.

“There is political interference by the CCC. They impose board members,” he said.

Chisango said the normal procedure is that the appointment of board members fell under his purview but his hands were tied.

Quizzed to explain on who exactly from the CCC was benefiting funds Chisango said: “It could be individuals taking money.”

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The town clerk also admitted before the commission that ratepayer’s money may not be in safe hands under the current council leadership as he failed to give the exact number of bars Rufaro Marketing owns.

“How then do you audit or follow up for your money when you don’t know how many bars the city owns?” Chisango was quizzed before saying he only knows that they are “over 130.”

Chisango also laboured to explain the council’s loss of  401 beasts and butchery equipment which are unaccounted for following the “folding” of Sunshine Meats.

According to the Auditor General’s report during the financial year 2017, council was prejudiced about US$24 000 from the loss of the cattle.

The commission also heard that Rufaro Marketing board members Juma Ulete and Ngoni Chimbalu were personally collecting rents from council bars without remitting them to the council, and converting the money to personal use.