Deputy mayor calls for probe into tender scam

He has, however, alleged that the accusations stem from a handful of councillors who were bent on tarnishing his image.
Clr Mpofu was implicated in a recent parking system tender row that saw Easipark, one of the tendering companies, being given tender application forms despite having failed to attend a compulsory tender briefing meeting.

On Sunday, the Mayor, Clr Thaba Moyo, said the local authority would only probe Clr Mpofu when other councillors submitted a formal report to the chamber.
He argued that the accusation could have been made by Clr Mpofu’s detractors.
In an interview on Tuesday, Clr Mpofu said he was a victim of a power struggle within council’s general purposes committee.

The committee is made up of the mayor, his deputy and councillors who are chairpersons of each of the local authority’s six committees.
It is the committee that often travels with council’s directors for meetings both in and outside the country. “I want a full investigation into the matter so that my name is cleared and whoever did wrong gets punished.”

Councillors in the committee are Clr Phineas Ndlovu of Ward 14, Clr James Sithole of Ward 7, Clr Nduna Dladla of Ward 11, Clr Norman Hlabani (Ward 26), Thembeni Khoza (Ward 12) and Clr Edward Ndlovu (Ward 25).
“I shot down a resolution by the committee to increase travelling allowances locally, from US$20 a day to US$50, on the grounds that council has no money. I also led a no vote against the issue of awarding councillors laptops for the same reason,” said Clr Mpofu.

He said the councillors were also bitter that he had been allocated a Mazda BT50 vehicle by the council. “Those are the only reasons why I am being persecuted,” said Clr Mpofu.
Clr Mpofu was allegedly approached by Easipark officials requesting him to intervene on their behalf, so that the company could get tender forms, following its disqualification from the tendering process.

He is alleged to have convened a meeting with the then acting town clerk, Mrs Sikhangele Zhou and the chairperson of the procurement board, Clr Sithole, during which they allegedly agreed to allow Easipark to forward its bid.

The action reportedly sparked an outcry from the other two companies that were bidding for the parking system tender, Megalithic and Greyholf.
“I was in a meeting when Clr Sithole came looking for the mayor. He said there were people who wanted assistance on a tender issue. I was the acting mayor then. I met the people and took them to the then acting town clerk, Mrs Zhou,” said Clr Mpofu.

He said the matter was discussed and settled there.
“I have no connection whatsoever with Easipark. I think the officials of the company often wonder who this Clr Mpofu is. I am clean and I welcome an investigation into the matter,” said Clr Mpofu.