10 Hwange councillors in abuse of office storm Hwange's town centre
Hwange's town centre

Hwange’s town centre

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
TEN councillors from Hwange Local Board are facing criminal abuse of office charges after they allegedly corruptly contracted a private company to develop housing stands without going through the tender process.

The tender was valued at more than $1,6 million in 2009 when the crime was allegedly committed.

The councillors are Local board chairperson Cosmas Ndlovu (47), Wilson Maphosa (44), Pius Shumba (43), Salani Nkomazana (47), Leonard Dlakama (39), Robert Ndlovu (58), Joseph Kakili Munkuli (62) Absalom Kwenda (60), Dewa Kondo (48) and Chemist Bulombo Dube (79).

Nine of the councillors are from the MDC-T party while Cllr Maphosa is from Zanu-PF. The 10 councillors were first elected in 2008 and were re-elected in 2013.

They were supposed to appear before a Hwange magistrate yesterday to answer to charges of criminal abuse of office but the case was rolled over to February 23 as investigations are not yet complete.

Allegations against the 10, according to court documents, are that they violated tender procedures as projects worth more than $10 000 are supposed to be advertised to invite bidders.

“The accused are all responsible for the running of the affairs of the Local Board. In 2009 the local authority wanted to develop 1 705 housing stands in Empumalanga suburb and it was resolved that the tender was going to be advertised to potential bidders,” reads the court documents.

According to the court papers, the tender was valued at about $1,6million.

Tenders above the informal tender of $10 000 for goods and services require council to invite tenders through newspaper, reads the court papers.

It is alleged that the 10 councillors violated the law and awarded the tender to N and S Properties on October 1, 2009, without inviting bidders.

The $1,6 million comprised surveyor’s fees, money to fund road construction, putting up water and sewer reticulation pipes and meet general labour costs among other things under phase 1 to 3  of Empumalanga suburb development project.

— @ncubeleon

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