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Massive corruption uncovered at Town House
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
March 09, 2009

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has learnt that the City of Harare has been rocked by massive corruption involving the sale of council owned cattle. Realizing the extent of the infrastructural deterioration and unavailability of funds, the council allegedly resolved to sell 500 beasts in order to raise funds to use in repairing and maintenance of roads, street-lights, traffic lights and improve provision of other municipal services. The resolution reached was then due for implementation by the workers, with the Town Clerk's office in the fore. Upon implementing the council resolution, the Town Clerk and other workers are said to have colluded with a known business tycoon (name withheld) to whom the buying tender had been given, to steal over 50 cattle from the council. The business tycoon is said to be an owner of one of the farms near the council's.

The council allegedly failed to realize the full income from selling the 500 beast as the council workers failed to account for money worth over 50 beasts. The councilors then put together a Special Audit Committee comprising the traditional Audit Committee and all the chairpersons of other committees to investigate the disparities. The special committee had been told by some of the council farm managers that the beasts sold had been slaughtered at Zimbabwe Halala Abattoir near Ruwa, an abattoir they found to be defunct. After getting more leads, the Special Committee then requested a police (ZRP) escort to help them search the businessman's farm into which they had initially been denied access thus raising more suspicion. Over 50 beasts belonging to the council were found in the businessman's farm, having been branded with his brand, alongside the council brand which enabled the Special Committee to identify them.

City of Harare owns three farms which are supposed to serve as sources of revenue and ease pressure on the rate payer. Reports of such corruption are emerging at a time when the Council workers have crafted a budget comprised of extremely high tariffs; with 60% of the total income being earmarked for salaries, allowances and administration. Residents have already protested that the proposed budget has failed to prioritize service delivery matters. Meanwhile, the Special Audit Committee, the Audit Committee and other Council Committees have allegedly recommended the suspension of the Town Clerk pending the investigation of this and other issues. The Special Committee will be sitting today, to review its work. The councilors have vowed to stop at nothing in cleansing the Council of corruption and plugging of all other leakages which weaken the Council's revenue base.

CHRA believes that this case is just but a tip of an iceberg into corrupt activities that have been going on since the appointment of the illegal successive commissions to run the city affairs. The Association therefore urges the Council to investigate and get to the bottom of this matter. Council investment projects must cater for the welfare of the city and must never be a source of personal income of the council workers. CHRA is currently consulting its wide membership on what course of action to take with respect to such reports of corruption by council employees. The Association remains steadfast in its advocacy for democratic, accountable and transparent local governance.

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