Correspondent|Harare City Council (HCC) officials who are accused of trying to steal humanitarian aid meant to stem Zimbabwe’s deadliest cholera outbreak in a decade are set to appear before a disciplinary committee.
The four, Philimon Rwafa a procurement and stores officer, Smart Mhuka a buyer, Tawanda Marange a cadex clerk and Tafadzwa Reza a buyer were accused of inflating prices of goods and services after Econet Wireless donated $10 million.
Econet founder and executive chairperson Strive Masiyiwa took to social media to blow the whistle on the alleged inflated prices.
After the billionaire voiced his concerns , HCC announced on its twitter page that it had suspended the four who were suspected of inflating prices for goods and services to be used in the fight against cholera.
In full council meeting minutes released yesterday, HCC resolved to bring the employees before the disciplinary committee for bypassing the internal audit process and to answer to charges of inflating prices for cholera relief items.
“The four employees mentioned in the Acting Audit Manager’s report appear before a disciplinary committee to answer charges of inflating cholera prices for items which resulted in council being exposed to a potential prejudice of US$30 951, US$81 114,50 ,US$38 801,50, and US$11 035 respectively.
“The employees mentioned should appear before a disciplinary committee for bypassing the internal audit process which verifies purchase orders and for not bench marking prices against manufacturer prices as per council resolution,” read part of the minutes.
Council also resolved to recover US$2 625 from Climbot Hardware.
“That council recovers US$2 625 from Climbot Hardware that was charged as Value Added Tax (VAT) on exempted goods,” further stated the contents of the minutes..
HCC also said the employees would be transferred to other departments.
“That the employees be transferred in the mean time to other sections of departments and their duties must not involve procurement.
“Buyers should stop contracting middle men as recorded in audit minutes dated February 2016 which state that prices should be bench marked against manufacturers/ main player or negotiable prices accordingly to the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets,” council said.
Meanwhile, a quick search on some of the alleged looters social media handles shows that they have been living a flamboyant lifestyle as evidenced by the pictures posted on the pages.
M&T