US$9M STREET LIGHTING SCAM SPILLS INTO COURT

Zvikomborero Parafini

THE US$9 million street lights fraud storm, in which four top Harare City Council officials allegedly connived with businessmen Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, spilled into court yesterday.

Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission Investigating Officer, Owen Mutembwa, opposed bail when Never Murerwa, Jabulani Mukomazi, Denford Zhungu and Tawanda Mutenhabundo, appeared before magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa.

Murerwa is the City Council’s manager supply chain, Mukomazi is the principal buyer while Zhungu and Mutenhabundo are the principal accountant and engineering technician.

Zhungu and Mutenhabundo were members of the tender evaluation committee, which adjudicated on tender number COH/DOW/S.5/2024, for the refurbishment of streetlights on various roads within Harare.

It is the State’s case that in January, the City of Harare embarked on a rehabilitation of street lighting along Harare roads.

On March 15, an invitation to tender was published in the Government Gazette and it was listed on the Procurement Regulatory Authority portal on March 19 2024.

Eleven companies took part and on March 28, Murerwa appointed the Tender Opening Committee, which included Mukomazi, Zhungu and Mutenhabundo.

On April 19, the committee sat and awarded Syvern Investments, Exodus and Company, Ship Tracks and Onel Engineering, the tender to rehabilitate eight of the ten lots.

No company were awarded more than two lots.

It is alleged that Juluka Endo Joint Venture, a company in which Mpofu has majority shareholding, was disqualified after falling to meet the tender requirements.

However, the quartet, working in connivance, proceeded to unprocedurally award the tender of the remaining lots to Juluka Endo Joint Venture.

It is alleged Mpofu also owns Synlak (Pvt) Ltd, a company which in 2019 was awarded a tender for a biogas digester and failed to deliver.

Acting upon the recommendation, the City of Harare entered into an agreement with Juluka and made an advance payment of US$9 244 328.

Investigating officer Mutembwa opposed bail and told the court that the quartet breached procurement processes to benefit Chimombe and Mpofu.

The case resumes today.

Lancelot Mutsokoti appeared for the State.