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Andile Tshuma, Chronicle Reporter
SOME Harare City Council officers have been suspended from work with immediate effect following allegations of overcharging for goods and services to cash in on a $10 million donation from Econet Group towards the fight against cholera.

Harare City council posted on its Twitter account yesterday afternoon that an undisclosed number of officials had been suspended over fraud charges.

“Harare Acting Town Clerk Eng Hosiah Chisango this morning suspended some officials suspected of inflating prices for goods and services to be used in the fight against cholera. Eng Chisango has since informed Mayor Clr Herbert Gomba and relevant stakeholders,” read the Harare City Council’s tweet.

Econet Group executive chairman and founder Dr Strive Masiyiwa took to social media to share his disappointment at people who escalated prices of commodities to be used in the fight against cholera.

“One of the saddest things that happened last week when Econet announced that it had set aside $10 million to help with support to buy medicines and materials was the number of suppliers and even medical officials in some of the affected municipalities who tried to defraud our company by offering things at highly inflated prices. Gloves worth $3 were suddenly worth $65.

“I have told my people to prepare lists of anyone who wilfully try to exploit the situation. After this crisis is over we will go after them on this platform, naming and shaming them,’ said Mr Masiyiwa on his official Facebook page.

Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Obadiah Moyo, bemoaned lack of morals among members of the public and officials who wanted to cash in on the national disaster.

“We are very grateful to the Econet family who have seen it necessary to come in and assist with $10 million towards the fight against cholera. They told us that they have set aside this amount of money. We won’t receive it in cash but they will pay and purchase whatever goods and service will be required in this state of emergency. Some corrupt officials and individuals and service providers saw an opportunity to make a killing and as a ministry we condemn that kind of behaviour. It is quite sad that some members of our community have no conscience and see an opportunity when we have been robbed of 30 Zimbabweans,” he said.

As at yesterday at 6PM, the Minister said 6 397 cases of suspected cholera had been recorded and 33 deaths had been reported.

He said 31 of the deaths were in Harare with one in Rusape and the other in Masvingo. — @andile_tshuma