ZACC Investigating “Murky” Airport Road Deal, Former Local Minister Ignatius Chombo Under Spotlight
11 November 2018
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By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) commissioner (investigations) Goodson Nguni has revealed that the anti graft body will next week have full details regarding complaints raised by Harare City Council over the “murky” Airport road deal which reportedly fleeced the local authority of millions of dollars.

The deal, done under the leadership of the former Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo reportedly fleeced the Harare City Council of millions of dollars and also saw the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) complete work on the said project.

Said Commissioner Nguni:

“We have received a complaint from Harare City Council and are dealing with it. By next week, we should have full details regarding the matter. We are working flat out on it,”

Businessman Ken Sharpe is at the centre of the investigation after the Harare City Council reportedly lodged a complaint with ZACC over the way the deal for the construction of the Airport Road, which was later completed by the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) was structured.

Revealed an inside source:

“Sharpe was awarded a contract without going to tender by Michael Mahachi, who was then heading a commission managing the affairs of the city at the time. Mahachi had been appointed by Chombo, but there is no evidence to show that the commission sat and approved the contract with Sharpe running into millions of dollars.”

Insiders said the investigations have revealed that under Mahachi’s instructions, council began transferring land and paid millions to Sharpe’s Augur Investments before work began.

“Council paid millions to Sharp’s Augur Investments even before any equipment moved onto the site. The whole thing reeks of graft.

Land was also transferred to the contractor as part of the payment plan before anything happened. Council lost a lot.”- StateMedia