CCC councillors in new bid to milk ratepayers

Municipal Reporter

CCC Harare City councillors have set up a special committee, ostensibly to investigate the Pomona Waste management deal, but to line their pockets from over-the-top allowances.

This is despite the fact that the €304 million joint venture deal was entered into legally between Harare City Council and German investor, Geogenix BV, to set up a massive waste-to-energy project at Pomona dumpsite in Harare.

CCC councillors appointed a special committee to investigate the deal and agreed to pay each other undisclosed sums of money on the pretext of investigating the deal which is in the public domain.

The national status project, which is expected to generate up to 22MW of electricity, has Cabinet approval therefore it is outside the council’s purview to attempt to suspend or investigate it.

Among the CCC cllrs selected in the committee include Keith Charumbira, Kudzai Kadzombe, Blessing Duma, and Ian Makone.

While the council may be obliged to pay externals on the committee, such as lawyer Mr Godfrey Mupanga and Engineer Stephen Musarurwa of the Institute of Engineers, there is no basis for the councillors to be paid allowances as it is part of their mandate to conduct council business.

In a letter dated June 7, 2022, HCC through Mayor Cllr Jacob Mafume said the committee is being appointed to look into the concession agreement to design, build and operate the Harare Pomona waste management facility and waste to the energy power plant.

In the letter, Mayor Mafume said on June 2, 2022, council resolved to appoint a special committee to look into the concession agreement to design, build and operate the Harare Pomona Waste Management Facility and waste to energy power plant.

“I am pleased to advise you that on 2nd June 2022, Council appointed you as one of the six members of the Special Committee. The Special Committee will be headed by Cllr lan Makone.

“The committee shall meet to appoint one of its members as the Secretariat, as well as agree on the schedule of its operations,” Mayor Mafume said.

He said the Special Committee shall endeavour to complete its task stated in the terms of the reference, as expeditiously as possible within fourteen (14) days from the date of the commissioning of the inquiry. “You shall be paid fees that will be determined by the Finance and Development Committee, therefore you will be advised in due course. Thank you for accepting the council’s invitation to be part of the Special Committee,” he said.