Harare, (New Ziana) – Two former executives of the Harare City Council, Phillip Mabingo Pfukwa (75) and Josephine Ncube (62), are awaiting indictment to the High Court to answer fraud charges involving over US$400 000.
In a post on X, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said Pfukwa and Ncube appeared this week before the Harare Regional Anti-Corruption Magistrates’ Court on charges of criminal abuse of office.
The charges arise from the allegations that they unlawfully awarded a US$465 290 contract to an undeserving company while working for the City of Harare.
In 2013, the City of Harare secured a €350 500 grant from the European Union (EU) to design and construct biogas digesters and install a 100KVA biogas generator for the Mbare Biogas Project.
Procurement procedures required a transparent tender process overseen by the Town Clerk and the Procurement Committee.
However, in March 2015, after receiving four bids, Pfukwa (then Director of Works) and Ncube (then Chamber Secretary) bypassed procurement procedures and unlawfully awarded the tender to Synlak Pvt Ltd, a company owned by Moses Mpofu, despite the applicant’s failure to meet standard requirements.
The duo falsified internal memos and misrepresented Synlak’s eligibility, ensuring it won the contract.
In December 2015, Ncube fraudulently signed off the contract, allowing Synlak to receive full payment of US$465 290 despite the company failing to deliver on the project.
Pfukwa and Ncube were remanded to next May 14 pending indictment to the High Court.
New Ziana
