HARARE – A botched deal between the City of Harare and Conplant Technology, has resulted in a staggering loss of US$398,370, sparking concerns over the city’s procurement processes.
According to a recent audit carried out by the council, the City of Harare paid US$1,558,720, which is 70% of the total contract price, to Conplant Technology for the supply and delivery of three motorized graders and ten tipper trucks.
However the company, owned by Bernard Chiondegwa, only delivered the tipper trucks valued at US$1,160,350 and failed to deliver the motorised graders.
The audit found that the City of Harare was prejudiced US$398,370, equivalent to at least one motorised grader, due to the non-delivery of the equipment.
“The 10 tipper trucks were delivered on 25 June 2018. The 3 motorized graders were not yet delivered as agreed and the total value of the 10 tipper Trucks is US$1 160 350 yet Council had paid å total of US$1 558 720 meaning council was prejudiced US$398 370.
“The US$398 370 is equivalent to at least 1 Motorised Grader. The Supplier did not deliver the 3 Motorised Graders,” reads part of the report gleaned by Nehanda Radio.
The scandal, which is likely to raise concerns about the city’s compliance with contract terms and its ability to enforce contracts, is coming out at a time when the city is failing to provide basic service delivery like water and garbage collection.
Six Harare City Council officials, including the Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango and Artkins Mandaza (42) who is employed as a Principal Contracts Administrator, are currently in remand prison over corruption involving US$9.2 million.
Chisango and Mandaza were arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on Wednesday and arraigned before the Harare Magistrates’ Court. They are still applying for bail.
They are accused of criminal abuse of duty as public officers for allegedly awarding a street lighting tender to Juluka Enndo Joint Venture, a company owned by Moses Mpofu, who is currently in custody for another corruption case involving his business partner Mike Chimombe.
The State alleges that Chisango and Mandaza disregarded an earlier decision to disqualify Juluka Enndo Joint Venture due to its failure to meet bid requirements.
Additionally, the company’s owners also own Synlak (Pvt) Ltd, which failed to deliver on a biogas digester tender in 2019. This goes against the standard bidding document condition that prohibits bidders with bad records from previous City of Harare tenders from participating.
Chisango and Mandaza allegedly used a wrong procurement method and drafted a contract without seeking exemption from the Procurement Regulatory Authority.
Chisango also sought an advance payment of USD9,244,328.71 from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, but the payment was not processed.
Other Harare City Council officials who are already in custody over the matter are Never Murerwa, the manager of the supply chain in the Procurement Management Unit, and Jabulani Mukomazi, the principal buyer in the same unit.
The other two officials who were arrested are Denford Zhungu, the principal accountant, and Tawanda Mutenhabundo, an engineering technician.
Discover more from Nehanda Radio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
