ZACC considers fresh charges against Chisango after fraud case dropped
By Staff Reporter
Former Harare town clerk Hosiah Chisango could soon be back in the dock after the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has vowed to renew his fraud accusations even after the case was dropped recently by prosecutors.
Chisango and four city bosses were recently let off the hook in a US$9 million Harare streetlighting tender scandal.
They were accused of fraudulently awarding the tender to Juluka Endo.
The company is owned by jailed business partners Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe who have been languishing in remand prison since last year over the same case.
Chisango was arrested together with Never Murerwa (Supply Chain Manager), Denford Zhungu (Principal Accountant), Tawanda Mutenhabundo (Engineering Technician), and Artkins Mandaza (Principal Contracts Administrator). However, charges against them were withdrawn before plea by the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) before plea last Friday.
Prosecutors said the five did nothing wrong while singling out Jabulani Mukomazi, Council Principal Buyer, who will face trial over the matter.
“The signed agreement between the City of Harare and Juluka was a nullity at law and the principal buyer, who had the duty to proceed by way of section 31 of PPDPA Act but chose to proceed by way of Section 34, attracted the criminal liability.
“Bright prospects of a conviction are there in respect of the principal buyer, that is how the State will proceed,” state prosecutor Witness Mabhadhi told the court.
However, ZACC is adamant the four are criminally liable for the offence.
“ZACC respects the position taken by the NPA and acknowledges that it is the mandate of the prosecuting authority to institute and manage criminal prosecutions in Zimbabwe,” said the anti-graft body in a statement.
“The Commission however, maintains that the accused persons are criminally liable for the fraudulent awarding of the tender and should defend their actions in court.
“Accordingly, ZACC is looking into the matter and will be preferring new charges against the five accused persons.”
