FOUR Harare City Council (HCC) officials arrested on charges of criminal abuse of office involving US$9 million have been granted US$500 bail each.
The accused persons Never Murerwa (62), Jabulani Mukomazi (44), Denford Zhungu (69) and Tawanda Mutenhabundo (29) were remanded out of custody to November 22 by Harare regional magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa.
Gofa said the defence cited that the suspects should be released on bail on changed circumstances after one of the accused persons, Hosiah Chisango, was granted bail over the same charges.
Chisango was recently suspended as the Harare City Council’s town clerk.
Prosecutor Mercy Masamvi alleged that in January this year, the City of Harare embarked on a project to rehabilitate streetlights in Harare in preparation for the 44th Session of the Sadc Heads of State and Government Summit.
On January 29, the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) granted a few specific exemptions to facilitate the expeditious completion of various key projects in time for the summit.
Consequently on March 15, a tender was published in the Government Gazette and was flighted on the Praz portal on March 19.
The court heard that 11 companies responded to the tender.
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Juluka Endo Joint Venture, a company in which Moses Mpofu is the majority shareholder, was disqualified after failing to meet the tender requirements.
However, the council workers allegedly connived and awarded the tender of the remaining lots to the company.
This was contrary to the standard of bidding document conditions.
Acting on their recommendations, the City of Harare entered into a contract with Juluka Endo Joint Venture, and thereafter, commenced preparation for an advance payment of the contract value of US$9 244 328,71.
