Source: Kasukuwere orders suspension of Harare MDC-T councillors – NewsDay Zimbabwe June 21, 2017
LOCAL Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere has ordered Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni to suspend four MDC-T councillors until their corruption cases have been finalised by the courts.
by EVERSON MUSHAVA
Kasukuwere said this on Monday after a tour of the city to assess road rehabilitation projects being undertaken by council.
“I have talked to the mayor and advised him that the MDC-T councillors accused of corruption should be moved out until their cases are finalised by the courts,” he said.
“I told him that they cannot continue to draw funds from the city they stole from.”
The four councillors, Wilton Janjazi (47), Urayayi Mangwiro (42), Paula Macharangwanda (51) and former councillor, Masiye Kapare (48) together with former Harare treasurer, Misheck Mubvumbi are facing fraud allegations involving $32 million.
Former town clerk, Tendai Mahachi, waste water works manager, Simon Takawira Muserere and former director of water, Christopher Magwenzi Zvobgo have also appeared before the courts facing similar charges.
Mubvumbi and the councillors are on $400 bail and will be back in court tomorrow.
The accused are alleged to have illegally awarded sewerage tenders to unregistered companies.
According to court papers, the complainant in the matter is City of Harare represented by acting town clerk Josephine Ncube.
The five, according to the State, in 2010, connived to circumvent council tender procedures and awarded a contract to an unregistered company for the rehabilitation of Firle Sewage Works.
The State alleges the five did not follow laid-down council tender procedures and went on to award the contract to Energy Resources Africa Consortium.
The accused are alleged to have bypassed tender sub-committees set out in terms of the council tender procedures and came up with an unpriced bill of quantities for the rehabilitation works.
They allegedly corruptly neglected to request the bidders to submit the required forms, certificate of incorporation, tax clearance certificate and audited financial statements, which are a prerequisite in all tenders.
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