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Innocent Ruwende Municipal Reporter
HARARE councillors want auditors Grant Thornton Camelsa to carry out a comprehensive audit on the city executives’ salaries and benefits as well as the sale of commercial and residential stands to management. The investigations follow revelations that the city’s 18 directors were gobbling over US$500 000 in salaries monthly at a time when service delivery has fallen to levels where the municipality cannot even replace street light bulbs or collect garbage.
There were also allegations that city directors bought industrial and commercial stands whose official prices ranged from US$20 to US$30 per square metre for as little as US$3 per square metre.
City directors are also said to have pocketed US$100 million through inflating prices of equipment for the US$144,4 million loan agreement obtained from China to refurbish water and sewage treatment plants.
According to the minutes of the Audit Committee chaired by councillor Panganai Charumbira on February 26 this year, the councillors resolved that city treasurer Mr Misheck Mubvumbi submits council’s consolidated asset register.
The minutes were tabled in a full council meeting yesterday.
“During discussion, the committee further recommended that the forensic audit exercise covers the period between 2009 and 2014 and investigates the fuel allocation and consumption both at municipal fuel depot and coupon system,” read the minutes.
“It will also investigate procurement of bearings at Harare Water Department, repairs and servicing of refuse removal trucks, vehicle parts cannibalism at the municipal automotive workshop, hire of plant and equipment for the department of engineering services.”
Key revenue assurance aspects in banking halls, leases, 10 major council contracts, information technology leakages and losses, the executives employment contracts, executive payroll, gross salaries benefits and non-cash benefits will also be investigated.
The committee approved that the auditing firm submits to council the preliminary report within 21 days.
Online Reporter