Harare – A cloud of controversy continues to hang over Harare City Council as four senior officials were denied bail on Monday, July 22, 2024, in connection with a US$9 million streetlight rehabilitation tender scandal. The officials, Never Murerwa (62), Jabulani Mukomazi (44), Denford Zhungu (69), and Tawanda Mutenhabundo (29), are facing charges of criminal abuse of office for allegedly awarding the contract to Juluka Endo company without following proper procedures.
The court heard that the officials, who were part of the tender evaluation committee, disregarded the company’s ineligibility due to its failure to meet tender requirements. Juluka Endo, owned by Moses Mpofu, was previously disqualified for failing to meet the tender requirements and for its association with Synlak (Pvt) Ltd, a company that was awarded a tender for a biogas digester in 2019 but failed to deliver.
The magistrate, Mrs. Marehwanazvo Gofa, ruled against bail, citing the potential for the accused to jeopardise ongoing investigations. The investigating officer highlighted that the officials had misrepresented the availability of requested documents, claiming they were with the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) when they were actually in their offices. Furthermore, the magistrate noted that PRAZ’s chief executive never authorised the officials to re-tender for Juluka Endo.
The court also considered the call history of the accused persons’ cellphones, which indicated communication with individuals like Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu. Chimombe and Mpofu, the largest shareholder of Juluka Endo, were previously denied bail on fraud charges stemming from the Presidential Goat Scheme and they are currently in remand prison pending trial for that case. This connection raised concerns about the officials’ potential to influence witnesses and tamper with evidence if released.
The case has sent ripples through the city, raising serious questions about the integrity of the tender process and the accountability of public officials. The awarding of the contract to a company with a history of non-performance, despite its initial disqualification, has fuelled public anger and suspicion.
The State’s case hinges on the allegation that the officials deliberately disregarded established procedures to favour Juluka Endo. The tender was initially awarded to four companies, with no company receiving more than two lots due to lot limitations. However, the accused officials allegedly conspired to award the remaining two lots to Juluka Endo, despite its previous disqualification.
