City to rotate thieving cashiers 

Source: City to rotate thieving cashiers | The Herald April 2, 2019

Eng Chisango

Innocent Ruwende Senior Reporter
Harare is set to rotate its market cashiers and members of the Environmental Patrol Unit (EPU) operating at different markets in the city following allegations that they were pocketing some of the money they were collecting.

The city plans to plug revenue leakages at revenue collection centres and is also fighting space barons who are also pocketing fees paid by vendors at the city’s markets.

Council recently regained control of Carter and Paget houses in Mbare 10 years after it lost them to an infamous violent outfit called Chipangano.

The city lost over $3,6 million in revenue during the years when the buildings were under the control of Chipangano, whose leaders pocketed all the money paid by tenants.

According to the recent Ordinary Council Minutes, councillors raised concern over the non-rotation of workers who collect revenue at the city’s markets.

“Council noted allegations that EPU members were receiving and pocketing cash and were allegedly never rotated, creating loopholes in the process,” reads the minutes. “Council then suggested plans to plug the loopholes in revenue collection. It also pointed out that illegal market space barons were pocketing market fees.

“The acting finance director (Mr Stanely Ndemera) advised that council intended to come up with a database for markets and lease arrangements which would be managed through the BIQ computer system. He was also coming up with receipts with more security features.”

During further discussion, council agreed that more sites for people’s markets and home industry be identified through district officers.

Council resolved that market cashiers and members of the EPU be rotated periodically.

Meanwhile, Town Clerk Eng Hosiah Chisango appraised the joint Education, Health, Housing and Community Service and Licensing and Finance and Development and Environmental Management Committee of the results of the Service Level Benchmarking Peer Review.

“The following key issues that required urgent attention were raised by SLB review teams: ageing infrastructure especially distribution networks for both sewerage and water, non-revenue water has decreased from 60,7 percent to 57 percent, but remained a challenge against a benchmark of 25 percent,” read the minutes.

“Need to align the performance improvement plans with budgets for ease of implementation and vacant positions in critical areas.”

The committee noted that City of Harare had been improving significantly in terms of data gathering as evidenced by 2018 peer review team report.

Council noted that the City of Harare was reviewed under the Service Level Benchmarking exercise of the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, two suspected fraudsters appeared in court yesterday facing allegations of defrauding a Harare woman of $9 500 in a botched residential stands deal, writes Panashe Machakaire.

Muzane Nyamadzawo (42) and Shepherd Munemo (47) appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Rumbidzai Mugwagwa facing fraud charges and were remanded in custody to April 4.

Prosecutor Mr Sabastian Mutizirwa alleges that on March 17, the duo and three others known as Prosper Bizerck, Andrew Mujungwa and Donny — who are still at large — hatched a plan to dupe potential buyers of residential stands of their money.

They advertised that they were selling a stand located at No. 17126, Borrowdale, Harare, under the Plots and Property section of a Sunday newspaper.

It is alleged the complainant, Patience Chibaya, contacted the accused’s persons after which one of the accused persons identified as Donald brought a photocopied Deed of Transfer and gave it to the complainant to verify its authenticity with the Deeds Office.

The court heard that on March 19 at around 6:50pm Nyamadzawo and Donald met the complainant and her husband at Engen along Simon Muzenda Street.

Donald introduced Nyamadzawo to the couple as his aunt, Bibi Sungwa

They drove to corner Jason Moyo Avenue and Third Street where the complainant was to make a down payment to Nyamadzawo after receiving the original title deeds to the stand.

It is alleged Nyamadzawo was paid cash US$9 500 and R7 000, which was never recovered.