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Chombo strikes in Harare

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The Harare city council cyanide saga has claimed its first scalp with Local Government Rural and Urban Development minister Ignatius Chombo yesterday suspending the chairman of the local authority’s procurement committee Julius Musevenzi.

The Harare city council cyanide saga has claimed its first scalp with Local Government Rural and Urban Development minister Ignatius Chombo yesterday suspending the chairman of the local authority’s procurement committee Julius Musevenzi.

Report by Wonai Masvingise/Moses Matenga

  Chombo also cancelled the license for MT and N Distributors, a company owned by businessman Alex Mashamhanda that supplied council with water treatment chemicals.

  The move put Chombo on a collision course with Mashamhanda who has been accused of being an MDC-T activist as the businessman said he viewed the minister’s move as persecution.

  A committee set up by Chombo which was chaired by Madzudzo Pawadyira recommended that MT and N Distributors be held responsible for the delivery of the dangerous chemical at the city’s water treatment works last month. “MT and N are to be held responsible and their contract should be terminated forthwith,” Pawadyira said.

  But Mashamhanda said as far as he was concerned, there was nothing wrong his company did but added he would only act after getting communication from his clients, the local authority.

  “I only respond when I hear something from my client. I can’t respond to Press statements,” he told NewsDay.

  “There is nothing wrong that I have done. We are not aware of any wrong that we did and we can’t speak for our client.”

  Chombo said he will not allow Musevenzi to stay a day more at Town House as there will be more harm. Musevenzi is the chairman of the committee responsible for procuring goods for council.

  “As from today, Musevenzi has been suspended. If we wait for Monday, two days is a long time and he might do more harm,” Chombo said.

  “A committee will be put together today to investigate all key tenders awarded by Harare City to see if they were not fraudulently awarded.”

  Pawadyira’s team recommended that Harare should declare the standards for testing samples and should produce test results as prescribed in the tender documents.

  “The awarding of tenders to the highest bidder should be subject to due diligence and should be sanctioned by council,” he said. Pawadyira said council’s tender system was open to abuse.

  “All vehicles should be checked outside the facility. Laboratory facilities at Morton Jaffray should be upgraded,” he said.

  “Trust and presumption should be removed from the equation. If and when the chemical is delivered EMA and ZRP should ensure that safety standards are met.”

  “Morton Jaffray should formally be declared a protected area.”

  Pawadyira urged Zimphos to mend its relations with the city.

  Zimphos is competing with other companies including MT and N Distributors to supply chemicals to the local authority.

  “Zimphos should mend their relationship with local authorities instead of burning bridges and they should also focus on improving their products,” he said.