THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has unearthed a multi-million-dollar scandal at Victoria Falls City Council involving councillors and government officials.
According to a Zacc investigation, the scandal involves Victoria Falls mayor Tuso Moyo and town clerk Ronnie Dube among other high profile personnel.
Ironically, Moyo has suspended Dube over allegations of corruption.
They are accused of allegedly bribing well-placed officials in different government departments to frustrate any efforts to arrest and prosecute them.
In a memo dated November 4, 2024 addressed to Zacc chairperson Michael Reza gleaned by NewsDay, Zacc head intelligence one B Mapfumo revealed that council was in disarray, operating away from its policy manual, circulars, instruments and Acts that govern local authorities.
“It was noted that a well-knit syndicate involving councillors and senior council employees existed for the sole purpose of parcelling out land illegally to unsuspecting citizens for personal and political gain,” the report read in part.
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“It is against this background that we took keen interest in what transpired at Stand 8300....
"Allegations are that, the town clerk Ronnie Dube instructed the evaluation team that he created, led by economic development manager Nqabutho Moyo to offer stand 8300 to Zambezi Properties, a shelf company they created.
“Reasons they turned down the offer of ZB Financial Holdings are not substantial, there is clear evidence of corruption.”
The report says Zambezi Properties is a shelf company created on September 15, 2021 way after council had invited an expression of interest to purchase the commercial stand.
“So it was purposefully formed for this particular corruption scandal,” the report said.
Dube and Moyo are also accused of allegedly coming up with a list of names used to unlawfully allocate themselves stands earlier this year.
"Allegations are that the town clerk Ronnie Dube submitted the list and corruptly issued out 15 stands for himself as the town clerk and 12 stands were given to mayor Tuso Moyo,” the report said.
"They did this under the guise that senior management had discretion to do so and forged the list as replacements and other buffer zone members".
"It is also alleged that some of the people allocated stands paid different amounts to the town clerk’s wife for them to be eligible to get a residential stands."
Moyo and Dube also allegedly corruptly awarded Highshot Engineering (Pvt) Ltd a tender to service BE100 residential stands with roads, sewerage and water reticulation in the sum of US$4 801 148,10.
"The cartel incorporated CCE (Pvt) Ltd to supervise and manage engineering works on the BE100 housing scheme without any procurement requirements followed,” the report read.
“On June 1, 2022, town clerk Ronnie Dube wrote a letter to CCE (Pvt) Ltd requesting consultancy services for the newly-approved residential schemes BE 100 and BD 46 high and medium-density suburbs.
"A payment amounting to US$157 401,94 was charged for the service and was paid to CCE (Pvt) Ltd on the instruction of the town clerk."
Yesterday, the Zacc chairperson said he had not received the report.
“It must have been sent straight to the investigative unit. You may have to check with them,” Reza said when contacted for comment.
Zacc spokesperson Simiso Mlevu did not respond to questions sent to her.
The mayor has since suspended the town clerk over allegations of corruption.
In a letter dated December 2, 2024, Moyo said he had received several complaints and allegations of abuse of office and corruption against the town clerk.
"As a result of the above allegations among others, I hereby suspend you with immediate effect...” he said.
“You are required to leave council offices forthwith. Council will notify you on the way forward.”
Moyo and Dube were not reachable for comment as their mobile numbers were not being answered.