The Constitutional Parliamentary Select Committee (Copac) co-chairpersons have allegedly instructed their head office secretariat to continue working with the acting national co-ordinator Gift Marunda who is facing corruption charges.
Report by Senior Reporter
Marunda was arrested last week and appeared in court last Friday for allegedly flouting tender procedures for printed material worth more than $18 000.
The material was meant for the Second All-Stakeholders’ Conference. He pleaded not guilty to criminal abuse of office when he appeared before Harare magistrate Anita Tshuma, who remanded him to October 19 on $500 bail.
Copac sources on Tuesday said co-chairperson Douglas Mwonzora and Munyaradzi Paul Mangwana addressed workers and told them that Marunda would continue to discharge his duties.
Mwonzora confirmed the development yesterday, adding he, together with Mangwana, had addressed the Copac secretariat staff on Monday.
“He has not been suspended by Copac. He’s still at work, but bail conditions do not allow him to work at our two physical addresses. He should not visit Number 2 Lawson and Rowland Square so he is still working for Copac, but not at these addresses. We are not convinced that the criminal charges preferred against him are founded. It could be the work of people competing for Copac business,” Mwonzora said.
Marunda is being charged for allegedly awarding a tender for printing of materials for the Second All-Stakeholders’ Conference to an unsuitable company and in breach of Government Tender Board procedures.
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The State alleged Copac paid $8 740 to African Legend Investment on August 1, but the company failed to deliver the printed materials. It is alleged that Marunda contracted the company again to print the Copac draft constitution in which a deposit of $9 982 was paid on September 25 from $13 200required for 1 200 copies.
African Legend Investments is alleged to be sub-contracting its printing jobs since it does not have a printing press of its own.
