Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Check Point Desk
A senior official in the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) Fire and Ambulance Services Department is being investigated for allegedly siphoning off over 20 000 liters of diesel in a fuel scam that spanned three years.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has confirmed it is investigating the matter, which centers on a manager (name supplied) accused of abusing both his position and a council-issued Toyota Land Cruiser (registration AAA 6540) to illegally obtain and resell fuel. The vehicle, intended to serve as a first responder for medical and fire emergencies, was allegedly used as a personal shuttle and a conduit for illicit fuel trading.
“We can confirm that we are handling such a case, but investigations are still at an early stage and are awaiting the outcome of an internal audit by the local authority,” said Zacc spokesperson Ms. Simiso Mlevu.
According to sources within BCC and evidence gathered by the Check Point Desk, the suspect exploited a faulty speedometer to avoid recording mileage in the logbook, a loophole that allowed excessive refueling without raising immediate suspicions.
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, the manager reportedly filled the vehicle’s tank, decanted the fuel for illegal resale, and returned to refill, primarily using council fuel depots at Khami Road and Famona. Most of the diverted diesel was allegedly sold to illegal fuel dealers operating under a tree in Nketa 6, along Nketa Drive just after Masiyephambili Drive.
BCC insiders said the vehicle, supposed to operate as a first responder in emergencies, had effectively become the manager’s personal car. It reportedly covers no more than 40km per day, yet it receives 60 litres of diesel every Monday, 80 litres on Wednesdays, and 60 litres on Fridays, quantities which he would decant.
“This issue has been ongoing for quite some time. The individual appears untouchable and is clearly using the council vehicle for personal enrichment. The car barely travels 40km a day, yet it receives more fuel than our active ambulances,” said one source.
The alleged scale of abuse is particularly alarming when compared to the city’s emergency fleet. Ambulances, which operate around the clock and cover up to 320km daily, reportedly receive only 30 litres of diesel per day, 210 litres per week. In stark contrast, the manager’s vehicle was allegedly consuming 200 liters in just five days.
The Fire and Ambulance Services Department falls under the office of the chamber secretary, Mrs. Sikhangele Zhou, who confirmed that the city’s internal audit team is currently handling the matter.
“Our internal audit team is seized with the matter, and we will be guided by the outcome of their investigations,” said Mrs. Zhou.
Town Clerk Mr. also confirmed that a probe is underway.
Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor David Coltart, responding to the Check Point Desk exposé via his X (formerly Twitter) account, pledged full transparency.
“This will be thoroughly investigated and a report given to the public,” wrote Cllr Coltart.
The scandal has emerged at a time when the city’s ambulance services are in a dire state. Of the 30 ambulances owned by BCC, only seven are operational. The remainder are grounded due to mechanical issues and budgetary constraints, a situation that endangers residents’ lives and casts a harsh spotlight on how municipal resources are managed.
The unfolding investigation has raised pressing questions about internal controls, accountability, and the extent of entrenched fuel corruption within the local authority. For a city grappling with resource scarcity and growing public frustration over poor service delivery, the outcome of this probe could prove to be a defining moment.
