The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (Zacc) is investigating a litany of corruption and abuse of office cases at Mutare City Council, amid reports that implicated officials are apportioning all the blame on the late town clerk, Mr Joshua Maligwa.
The Manica Post understands that officials from Zacc spent the greater part of this week interrogating several senior employees at the local authority over the alleged cases of corruption.
In a telephone interview, Zacc spokesperson, Commissioner John Makamure confirmed that their officials are investigating cases of corruption and abuse of office at the local authority.
“We have our officers on the ground investigating cases of corruption and abuse of office at Mutare City Council. It is unfortunate that I cannot delve into details about the cases being investigated for fear of jeopardising investigations,” he said.
Contacted for comment, Mutare Mayor, Councillor Blessing Tandi, said the investigations are routine.
“I was not around when they visited the Civic Centre as I was in Harare. However, from the brief details I have gathered, there is really nothing for us to hide.
“Local authorities like Harare, Gweru, Gokwe and many others have gone through that. Remember, these are public funds and this is a public organisation, so we have nothing to hide. We will cooperate with them and whoever is caught on the wrong side must indeed face the music,” said Councillor Tandi.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda said two officials — the city engineer, Maxwell Kerith and workshop manager, Patrick Magwegwe — have since been arrested by Zacc officials.
“The two were arrested by Zacc officials and as we speak they are currently detained at Mutare Central Police Station. We do not have further details as Zacc is conducting the investigations,” said Inspector Chananda.
Kerith is alleged to have abused his office by authorising the repairing of a Tamirepi’s vehicle at the City of Mutare’s garage.
Zacc is said to be in possession of images and videos of Tamirepi’s vehicle being repaired by council staff at the local authority’s garage.
While Keith and Mugwagwa are already assisting Zacc officials with investigations, sources at the local authority confided in this newspaper that top on the list of senior employees under investigation is the acting town clerk, Dr Anthony Mutara.
According to the sources, Dr Mutara allegedly influenced the employment of his relatives — including his wife and child — without declaring his interests in the recruitment process as required under good corporate governance dictates.
The council spokesperson, Spren Mutiwi, is also alleged to have abused his office following alleged unprocedural procurement of office material, through which he might have financially benefited.
The embattled local authority’s senior employees are also embroiled in a messy second hand car import and purchasing scam after details emerged that they took delivery of luxury vehicles supplied by a dubious local car dealer who had illicitly imported stolen vehicles without paying customs duty.
It is alleged that Mutare City Council’s senior employees purchased three vehicles allegedly stolen in South Africa at inflated prices in contravention of the council’s equipment purchasing procedures.
The syndicate purchased the vehicles without a full council resolution or going to tender, as required by Government policy.
It is alleged they pocketed thousands of dollars from the murky deal.
