In an explosive report, the probe team, appointed by Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo in September, unearthed details of how politicians abused their influence to engage in fraudulent deals. The seven-person team is headed by TelOne Finance and Administration Director, Ellen Chivaviro. Chombo told The Zimbabwean: “My officials are now looking into the matter and they will give me an official position on Friday, after which we will map the way forward.”
The results reveal how officials from the City’s Department of Engineering Services received life threatening messages from anonymous callers following plans to pull down some illegal outdoor advertising structures. According to the probe report, the anonymous callers claimed to represent some political interests.
The report listed nine companies operating in outdoor advertising in Harare, namely Creation Desk, Continental Outdoor, Fuldon, Askeland, IQ Media, AXA, Finemark and Ceterson.
“These companies have not been paying amounts due to council. Collectively they owe $3,596,541.66 as at 31 August 2012,” reads the report, adding that the erection of billboards in the city was being done in violation of council policy, which requires that all outdoor advertising activities be awarded through public tender.
“At least 50 percent of the billboards are illegally and wrongly placed. The Director of Urban Planning revealed that the Council has not been able to quantify the total number of illegal bill boards in Harare,” reads the report.
Of the 200 car sales operating in Harare, the team found that only 47 have lease agreements, and of those only three meet the town planning requirements. It was noted that only one of the 47 car sales was in full compliance with licensing requirements.
The report noted how efforts by a team appointed by council to penalise car parks without stand numbers and leases hit a snag due to fears of an outbreak of violence.
“The team was unable to check what form of Council Authority these car sales were using because of the previous violence and gunshots experienced when council previously made an attempt to clean up the illegal car sales,” reads the report.
The probe also noted a lot of underhand dealings in the tender awarding process “as some companies that were disqualified for not meeting the set tender criteria were later awarded contracts”.
“The procurement Board disregarded professional advice from the Chamber Secretary to the extent of violating Council’s tender policy. Some councillors who are members of the Procurement Committee are not conversant with tender procedures,” reads the report.
Post published in: News
chombo is the biggest offender and should be probed first. That way we might get half of our city back as well as the rest of the country.