Harare city boss arrested over alleged tender fraud

Harare town clerk Hosiah Chisango has been arrested on allegations of illegally awarding a US$9.2m street lights tender to businessman Moses Mpofu who is currently in jail over another botched Presidential Goat Scheme. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) confirmed his arrest. New Zimbabwe reports that Chisango's suspected accomplices, also city officials, were arrested two weeks ago. ‘Allegations are that Chisango acted in connivance with four other officials who are already in custody and awarded a street lights tender worth over US$9.2m to Juluka Enndo Joint Venture, a company owned by businessman Moses Mpofu without following the due process,’ said the ZACC in a statement. Accomplices already on remand are Never Murerwa, Jabulani Mukomazi, Denford Zhungu and Tawanda Mutenhabundo. Murerwa and Mukomazi are employed by the City of Harare in the procurement management unit, and Zhungu and Mutenhabundo as principal accountant and engineering technician respectively, but during the material time, they were members of the tender evaluation committee which adjudicated on tender for the refurbishment of streetlights. In January 2024, the City of Harare embarked on a rehabilitation of street lighting in Harare in preparation for the 44th Southern African Development Committee Summit which will be held in the city in August 2024.