A cloud of suspicion hangs over the City of Harare as four of its employees face serious allegations of corruption related to a US$9 million street lights tender. The case, which has sent ripples through the city’s corridors of power, involves the alleged illegal awarding of the tender to Juluka Enndo Joint Venture, a company in which controversial businessman Moses Mpofu holds a majority stake and is reportedly also linked to Mike Chimombe.
The accused, Never Murerwa, Jabulani Mukomazi, Denford Zhungu, and Tawanda Mutenhabundo, appeared before Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa, who remanded them in custody pending a bail hearing. The charges against them are serious, with the potential for significant consequences if found guilty.
The allegations stem from a tender process initiated by the City of Harare in January 2024, aimed at rehabilitating street lighting across the city in preparation for the upcoming 44th Southern African Development Committee (SADC) Summit scheduled for August 2024. The tender, valued at US$9,244,328.71, was intended to ensure adequate lighting for the summit, which is expected to attract dignitaries from across the region.
“Consequently, on 15 March 2024, an invitation to tender was published in the Government Gazette and it was listed on the Procurement Regulatory portal on 19 March 2024,” stated the prosecution. “Eleven companies namely, Donax Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd, Ship Tracks (Pvt) Ltd, Furbank Trading (Pvt) Ltd, Radiation Incorporation (Pvt) Ltd, Slowgrad Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, Syvern Investments (Pvt) Ltd, Onel Electrical Engineers (Pvt) Ltd, Boltgas International (Pvt) Ltd, Stoyna Computers (Pvt) Ltd, Juluka Ennd Joint Venture (Pvt) Ltd and Exodus & Company (Pvt) Ltd responded to the tender Invitation.”
However, the process took a turn when Juluka Enndo Joint Venture, despite failing to meet the tender requirements, was allegedly awarded the contract for the remaining lots. The prosecution alleges that the accused, working in collusion, disregarded the dictates of the general procurement provisions, which require competitive bidding processes.
“They further disregarded their earlier decision to disqualify Juluka Enndo Joint Venture for failing to meet the bid requirements,” the prosecution alleged. “Further, the accused awarded the tender to Juluka Ennd Joint Venture whose owners also own Synlak (Pvt) Ltd, a company which had in 2019 been awarded a tender for a biogas digester and had failed to deliver. This was contrary to the standard bidding document condition which provided that bidders who had bad records in the execution of the City of Harare works were not eligible.”
The alleged actions of the accused have raised serious concerns about the integrity of the tender process and the potential for corruption within the City of Harare. The prosecution alleges that the accused, in their capacity as public officials, acted with the intention of extending an undue favour to Juluka Enndo Joint Venture.
“By so acting, the accused knowingly acted contrary and inconsistent with their duties as public with the intention of extending an undue favour to Juluka Ennd Joint Venture (Pvt) Ltd,” said the National Prosecuting Authority.
The case has sparked widespread condemnation from civic groups and opposition politicians, who have accused the City of Harare of failing to uphold transparency and accountability in its procurement processes. They have called for a thorough investigation into the allegations and the prosecution of all those found guilty of wrongdoing.
The case has also highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by Zimbabwe in its efforts to combat corruption. Despite the establishment of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the enactment of legislation aimed at curbing corruption, the country continues to struggle with the problem, which has a devastating impact on its economy and development.
