… engineers condemn the poor quality
Brighton Chiseva
A total of US $150 000 could have gone down the drain at Zaka Rural District Council (RDC) following an unscrupulous tender procedure which saw the local authority paying such huge amount of money to contractors who are yet to deliver three years down the line.
The local authority is now under fire from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) that has set base in the district for close to a week now after a whistle-blower reported a number of anomalies at the institution.
ZACC spokesperson John Makamure told TellZim News that a team from the anti-graft commission was dispatched to Zaka after a report was made by a whistleblower and ZACC was now doing a systems and compliance exercise at the local authority.
“Investigations are currently underway; we are doing a systems and compliance exercise at the local authority following a report from a whistle blower,” said Makamure.
Sources within the local authority however said the main issues raised involved awarding of tenders without following due process, double allocation of stands among others.
The local authority reportedly paid Cascade Consultancy a sum of US $125 000 to design Jerera sewer system and another company, Sustiglobal US$25 000 for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) about three years ago.
Cascade Consultancy is alleged to have done the designs which were condemned by engineers from government departments like Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) and other engineering departments but the RDC went on to pay for the poor designs.
“At first council had resolved to upgrade the sewer system in the few areas that had sewer connections and add a smaller section to the existing ones with the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) funds since it was not enough to do the whole of Jerera.
“However, the top management later changed and agreed to do the whole of Jerera with Cascade Consultancy being awarded the tender to do the designs and was paid US$125 000. The designs were condemned by other members of the engineering department as well as those from other government departments like ZINWA,” said the source.
Another allegation is that the local authority paid another contractor who fenced Jerera stadium without due procedure being followed.
“Recently the local authority tasked someone to fence Jerera Stadium without a tender and paid him ZW$108 000. When he came to claim the payment after finishing the work, that is when it was discovered that he had no tender documents.
“When asked by council treasury to produce tender documents he allegedly failed to even explain how he got the tender as he did not have any paperwork. The top management was called and neither of them could confirm giving him the tender but they went on to pay him regardless,” said the source.
Zaka RDC has reportedly been at loggerheads with residents over double allocation of stands. Sources said two prospective stand seekers were allocated one stand and others lost the battle to recover their money for failing to produce enough documents though there was other evidence that they purchased and paid for the stands.
During the recent full council meeting, they deliberated on the issue of stands and resolved to give one victim of the scam only identified as Dakwa, another stand after a double allocation case.
However, other councillors are said to have said the move was dangerous, as it would open floodgates to similar queries from people who had been denied reprieve.
“The full council resolved to give Mr Dakwa another stand after a double allocation scandal. However, ward 19 councillor Peter Imbayarwo told the council that the move was dangerous, and other people with similar issues would come forward and they will not be able to deny them the same treatment they would have given to Mr Dakwa when they have similar issues. There are a number of cases of double allocation some involving Mr Pise, a local business person and ward 23 Councillor Maria Rangwani,” said the source.
Another allegation involves Nyabare Park where the local authority is accused of repossessing stands for failure to develop within a very short period and giving them to their relatives.
Planning and technical services department head Simbarashe Chikwiri is alleged to have awarded his wife a stand worth US $7 700 in the area.
“Chikwiri gave his wife a stand in Nyabare Park at the expense of the general public. He has other stands but wants to continue amassing more. They are repossessing stands after a very short period for not developing and considering the prices, a number of people will not be able to develop them in time,” said the source.
Another tender was given to a company called Unibrik to rehabilitate roads in Jerera and around the district. It is reported the work was half-done with the roads still in bad state and were condemned even by the local authority’s engineering department.
“The contractor did Jerera-Cherechere, Zibwowa-Panganai and Chipfuti-Charuka roads. The roads were badly done but they went on to pay the contractor about half of the money. The roads need to be redone and the contractor also needs to go on to other roads but I am not sure if he still has the money to do so,” said the source.
Despite the shoddy job, the same contractor allegedly got another tender from council to construct Mudzara Secondary School using devolution funds.
Zaka Central Member of Parliament (MP), also ZANU PF’s Zaka District Development Committee (DDC) Vice Chairperson Davison Svuure said they were worried as MPs about the pace at which development was taking place in Zaka saying they have not commissioned anything for a long time.
He said they are worried that other districts are commissioning devolution projects but Zaka seemed to be lagging behind and people would naturally believe allegations being raised against the local authority which have attracted anti-graft body ZACC.
“I am really worried about how development is taking place in Zaka. We have not commissioned anything since the coming in of devolution funds like other districts and when we heard that ZACC is at council, there is a natural feeling that maybe there is something going on there. I am not really sure what the issues are but eagerly waiting to hear their findings and we hope they will help develop the district,” said Svuure.
Contacted for comment, Zaka RDC Chairperson Cornelius Mapuranga said they are looking into the allegations and will do as recommended by ZACC.
He went on to say it was common knowledge that if an employee fails to deliver, he/she has to be disciplined or cautioned and all those found wanting, should be disciplined.
“We will do as we had been recommended to, as is the norm, if one fails to deliver as expected, measures to address the problem should be employed and that is what we are going to do,” said Mapuranga.
He however, confirmed poor service delivery saying it is the reason why residents raised complains with ZACC, but referred clarification on the actual issues to Zaka RDC Chief Executive Officer David Majaura.
“Residents expect efficient service delivery, and if that is not done residents complain and sometimes they will not know the problem we face as council but accuse us of failing them. However, on the issues of tenders and the figures you have to contact the CEO,” said Mapuranga.
Majaura acknowledged having paid the amount to Cascade consultancy saying it was only for the designs and they are yet to get more funding for the actual sewer project.
“It is true we paid close to US$125 000 but it was for consultancy and designs only. The designs were not condemned but people report what they think even if that is not true. We are yet to get more funding for the actual sewer project,” said Majaura.
He however refused to comment further on issues raised by ZACC saying the matter was still pending and will comment after the release of the final outcomes by ZACC.
He further said they were going to implement the recommendations but said other issues raised were not true since the whistle blowers were just disgruntled community members who may have personal issues with council.
On the issue of completing developmental projects, Majaura said they were not relying on devolution or other funding mechanisms but were doing a number of projects with some complete while others are almost done.
