Chombo Accused of Siphoning money from Bankrupt Harare Council to Zanu PF
(HARARE) The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has accused officials in the cash-strapped Harare City Council of diverting municipal funds to Zanu PF at the behest of local government minister Ignatius Chombo.
The allegations are contained in a report entitled, “Rampant corruption rocks city treasury” published in CHRA’s latest newsletter, The Resident.
“CHRA has received disturbing reports from some sources within the Harare City Council to the effect that there is rampant corruption in the city treasury. It is alleged that rate-payers’ money is leaking from the city treasury to Zanu PF coffers,” the report says.
CHRA now wants an urgent inquiry by an independent commission set up by councilors, among other measures.
The report says, “Sources within the council have pointed out that the city’s finance director, Mr Zvikaramba has fallen out of grace with councilors who accuse him of approving the disbursement of funds from the city treasury without council approval. It has been revealed that a couple of thousands of dollars are finding their way out of the city treasury and they are allegedly feeding into Zanu PF coffers. There are some allegations that Zanu PF is continuing with its tradition of heavily relying on the city of Harare for its financial survival. Mr Zvikaramba is said to be receiving instructions from the Minister of Local Government (Ignatius Chombo) to release money from the city treasury.
“Some councilors have pointed out that this is the reason why Chombo continues to heavily interfere with the affairs of Town House. They have also said this is the reason why the city’s former finance director, Mr Mubvumbi was relieved of his duties on flimsy allegations which the minister has failed to substantiate to date. The councilors said that Mubvumbi was professional in his work and he would not release money anyhow, a situation that subsequently led to his unfair suspension.
“The minister of local government’s strong support for Zvikaramba emanates from his (Zvikaramba’s) allegiance to the minister rather than the council.”
The reports come barely six months after 300 cattle reportedly disappeared from the council’s Crowborough farm.
“The sad thing is that the council did not do anything to bring the culprits to book. Residents can not continue to pay their hard-earned money to satisfy the greed of inconsiderate politicians,” CHRA said.
Other measures demanded by the residents association are:
· The engagement of professional and independent auditors to carry out an audit into the operations and accounts of the city’s finance department.
· Putting into place of proper systems and procedures to govern the use and disbursement of money within the city treasury to ensure transparency and accountability.
· Addition of the finance committee chairperson to the list of signatories on the council’s bank accounts, along with the town clerk and finance director.
Comment could not immediately be obtained from the city council, Zvikaramba or Chombo.
Posted by Dave Fish Eagle
on August 31, 2009. Filed under Local News.
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