Harare Town Clerk Chisango ’s Corruption Scandal: A Tale of Injustice, selective application of the law
Ironically, the cash-rich Chisango's modus operandi is said to be the opposite of an old age adage that states that the forest rewards hardworkers, he has a trail of corruption cases where he is alleged to reap where he did not sow
Harare, Zimbabwe – The City of Harare is once again in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons as Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango, recently granted bail in the face of serious allegations over the unprocedural awarding of the Juluka Street lights tender.
The cash rich Chisango now enjoys his freedom but the recipients of the tender Zanu PF loyalists Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu remain incarcarated, highlighting a glaring injustice in the handling of the high-profile corruption case.
Chisango, a key architect in awarding the tender to Juluka Enndo Joint Venture despite their previous failures, has shown a blatant disregard of due process and fairness.
Among those incarcerated is Engineering Technician Tawanda Mutenhabundo, whose promising future, including a Masters Scholarship at Leeds University, is now in jeopardy due to the greed and corruption of his superiors.
Reports indicate that the public prosecutor and the judge handling the case were handsomely remunerated, a common tactic in Chisango’s playbook.
Known for his street-smart manouvers, Chisango boasts that he will never be held accountable, always shifting the blame to his subordinates.
This strategy has previously resulted in harsh sentences for former acting finance director Stanley Ndemera and former acting chamber secretary Charles Kandemiri, who each received six-year sentences for processes from which they did not financially benefit.
Meanwhile, the true beneficiaries, Chisango and former Mayor Herbert Gomba, walked away unscathed, pocketing the illicit gains.
This pattern of corruption continues as Chisango, armed with a USD 2 million war chest, views legal challenges as mere speed bumps on his path back to Townhouse. He was also recently boasting that he has the President and his family on his side and that a meeting with the President was imminent and thus he would be pardoned.
His adverse influence is already being felt, as he boasts of causing the recent arrest of Audit Chair Councillor Duma on dubious extortion charges. Duma, known for exposing corruption within the council, appears to be a sacrificial lamb in Chisango’s bid to silence dissent.
The High Court Judge’s decision to release Chisango on bail, while other participants in the fraudulent tender process languish in prison, is a travesty of justice. One of the lawyers of the incarcerated adjudicators advised this publication that Chisango reduced scope of the initial tender at contract signing stage due to lot limitations and budgetary constraints so he knew very well that Juluka Enndo was non complaint and disqualified making him the chief architect of their award fraudulently. This makes us query the impartiality of the judiciary and ask the authorities to verify what really happened. Chisango, although ordered not to interfere with witnesses has recently tried to go back to work and assert control over council workers and to stifle reports to the commission. Fear now grips the council employees as the return of Chisango would signal near death for all the whistleblowers.
The young Mutenhabundo and the elderly Zhungu unknowingly rubber-stamped the Town Clerk’s shady deal. Ignorance may be no defense, but the court must recognize the farcical nature of this decision and the need for true accountability.
During Chisango’s disastrous tenure, the City of Harare’s financial statements were consistently qualified, reflecting deep-seated issues within the council’s financial management. The absence of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, which Chisango vehemently opposed, has further exacerbated the council’s vulnerability to corruption and mismanagement.
As the commission continues its work, the residents of Harare watch closely, hoping for accountability and a restoration of integrity within their city’s administration. The revelations of corruption and administrative failures underscore the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to ensure that the council can effectively serve its citizens.
The unfolding scandal serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Harare and the critical importance of transparency and accountability in governance. The nation awaits the commission’s findings with bated breath, hoping for a new chapter in the city’s troubled history.
