Eight HCC officials face Zacc probe over missing U...

Eight HCC officials face Zacc probe over missing US$200m

Zim Now Writer

Eight City of Harare officials face a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) probe over US$200 million that disappeared due to a suspicious billing system.

Individuals within the local authority have taken advantage and manipulated processes and systems for personal gain, leading to the anti-graft body targeting the eight, who include the Head of Information Technology (IT), for alleged criminal abuse of office.

While newly-appointed Zacc spokesperson Commissioner Thandiwe Mlobane was not immediately available for comment, Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee’s subcommittee on Local Authorities chairman Dexter Nduna confirmed this week that the anti-graft body was now handling the matter.

The Committee wanted council to produce documentation and explain the loss of over US$200 million following the cancellation of a suspicious contract it had with a South African accounting firm, Quill Associates.

The firm supplied council with an accounting software.

“The matter has been reported to ZACC RRB 003367 for eight officials led by Samson Madzokere for criminal abuse of office,” Nduna said, adding that individuals and cartels within the local authority were manipulating tender processes for personal gain.

The Auditor General’s report red-flagged the missing US$200 million and Parliament felt Harare City Council officials were not cooperating on earlier instructions to produce a reconstruction of the records of 2019.

Despite being brought to the august house in excess of three times, the council failed to address the Committee’s concerns.

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said the local authority was following the Auditor General’s recommendations on the matter, adding that they would also look at ways to plug further hemorrhage.

The officials reportedly forced companies to put their tenders and make them finance trips to different countries including China, Australia and South Africa upon requesting the companies to pay for their allowances, airfares and accommodation.

They would then trail the companies that failed to pay for their demands and the committee now feels the US$200 million represented a tip of the iceberg.

Harare’s lack of a billing system exposed council who would collect revenue and pocket it without capturing it into their system.