adminInnocent Ruwende Municipal Reporter
As investigations into alleged fraud at Harare Municipal Medical Aid Society by city councillors intensify, Mbare councillor Antony Shangadeya yesterday appeared in court for allegedly siphoning over $10 000 from the society while police questioned two more councillors in relation to the swindle.
Two officials in the housing and city evaluation department were also summoned for questioning as police took heed of Government’s directive ordering them to investigate and arrest councillors and officials involved in graft.
Another councillor, Hammy Madzingira, has since appeared in court facing fraud charges involving $70 000 after he allegedly awarded himself thousands of dollars as sitting allowances.
He was charged with fraud or alternative criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
Shangadeya, who faced the same charge, appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo who granted him $100 bail.
Sources close to investigations said alternative HMMAS board members, Clrs Loveness Gomba and Maureen Nyemba were summoned and questioned but were released pending further investigations.
The arrests come after Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere ordered for an audit into the city’s business entities and joint ventures most of which have not been contributing to the city’s revenue streams.
These include the city’s farms, nursery, real estate (Rufaro Marketing Property Asset), hospitality and parks.
The audit followed revelations that most city deals, especially joint venture agreements, were riddled with corruption.
Board chair Dr Sasha Jogi and Cllr Panganayi Charumbira were released after questioning.
On Tuesday, Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni, urged councillors to cooperate with police.
Yesterday Mayor Manyenyeni said he was still to be briefed by councillors over the incident.
However, MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai is said to have summoned MDC-T councillors today over the arrests.
The State alleges that the councillors and other board members who are still at large hatched a plan to siphon money from HMMAS.
They allegedly paid themselves varying amounts of money and Madzingira was given $10 000 as sitting allowances.
In August this year, Minister Kasukuwere suspended all 18 Gweru councillors, including the mayor and his deputy on allegations of gross misconduct and mismanagement of council funds and affairs.
Minister Kasukuwere said Government will not tolerate the abuse of ratepayer’s money by city fathers and officials.
Government had directed the Anti-Corruption Commission and police to deal with corruption in councils.
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