End Time Message pastor sucked in ‘Goatgate’ kingpin streetlights USD9 million tender scandal
Harare-Clergyman Never Murerwa (62) is among the four Harare City council officials who were nabbed by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in connection with a street lights tender scandal.
Murerwa who works in the council’s Procurement Management Unit as manager supply chain is also the clerical leader of the End Time Message church denomination at Nzvimbo Growth Point in Chiweshe.
He is facing criminal abuse of office after allegedly awarding a local company Juluka Endo Joint Venture owned by Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, a tender worth US$9 244 328 without following due procedures.
Mpofu and Chimombe are currently remanded in prison awaiting trial on allegations of defrauding the Government of over US$ 87 million meant for the Presidential Goat Scheme.
Murerwa is being jointly charged with three others, Jabulani Mukomazi (44), Denford Zhungu (69) and Tawanda Mutenhabundo (29) with prosecutor Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti alleging that there is documentary evidence linking the accused to approving procurements without proper procedures.
During a recent bail hearing, investigating officer Owen Mutembwa revealed that Mukomazi is a close associate of Mpofu and Chimombe adding that Murerwa participated in the awarding of the tender knowing very well that it was unlawful since the company did not deserve to win the tender.
Meanwhile, ZACC is reported to have overwhelming evidence against the four including over 20 witnesses with 12 having since been recorded statements nailing the accused.
It is the State’s case that in January this year, the City of Harare embarked on the rehabilitation of street lighting along Harare roads.
On January 29, the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) granted a few specific exemptions to facilitate the expeditious completion of key projects in time for the summit.
On March 15, an invitation to tender for street light repairs was published in the Government Gazette and it was listed on Procurement Regulatory Authority portal on March 19.
The court heard that 11 companies responded to the tender invitation.
Juluka Endo Joint Venture was disqualified after failing to meet the tender requirements.
However, the accused persons, working in connivance went to unlawfully award the tender of the remaining lots to Juluka Endo Joint Venture, disregarding the general procurement provisions which required the process to be done through a competitive bidding process.
The State further alleged that the accused persons disregarded an earlier decision to disqualify Juluka Endo Joint Venture for having failed to meet the bid requirements.
