By Prosper Dembedza
Two more Harare City Council bigwigs yesterday appeared in court for siphoning $200 000 from Harare Municipality Medical Aid Society (HMMAS) by awarding themselves hefty sitting allowances.
Cosmas Bungu (49), who is the vice- chairman of the Harare City Council Medical Aid Society and also an executive chairman of Harare Municipal Workers Union and Walter Ruzambe (42), who is the machine operator in the Works Department and also a HAMMAS board member were charged with criminal abuse of duty as public officers.
Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo granted the two $500 bail each.
As part of their bail conditions, the duo was ordered not to interfere with witnesses and to reside at their addresses. The two will be back in court on February 15 next year.
Allegations are that during the period extending from January 2015 to December 4, the three, in connivance with other board members who are already on remand, mooted an idea to siphon money from the society by paying themselves amounts ranging from $5 000 to $20 000 in sitting allowances against council regulations.
The court heard that Bungu was corruptly paid $20 000 while Ruzambe got $5 000.
It is alleged that the other 15 board members were paid a cumulative figure of $175 000. The allowances which the three awarded themselves were not due to them and were in violation of council regulations.
Harare City Health Director Dr Prosper Chonzi, the city’s medical aid society chairman Shasekant Jogi and Councillor for Ward 3 Panganai Charumbira have already appeared in court on allegations of swindling the Harare Municipality Medical Aid Society.
