THE National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) faces eviction from its posh offices in central Harare over non-payment of nearly half a million dollars in rentals, NewsDay can reveal.
BY RICHARD CHIDZA
Old Mutual Property wrote to the NPA on May 17 over the non-payment of rentals for Corner House, its current head office.
“According to our records, an amount of $434 475,70, being $222 478,20 rent and $211 997,50 operating costs, is reflected as outstanding as at May 17, 2016,” L Goremusandu, Old Mutual head of property services, wrote.
“Please let us have your remittances in full within 10 days of the above-mentioned date (i.e.) by May 27, 2016), as provided for in your lease agreement.”
Goremusandu also took the opportunity to remind the NPA that rentals were due and payable in advance by the first day of each month and that interest would be levied on all overdue amounts.
NPA spokesperson Allen Chifokoyo confirmed the office of the country’s top prosecutor was in a dire financial situation.
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“Since last year, government has not released any funds for rentals, culminating in the figure you have referred to, but Treasury has indicated it is working on the issue with a view to settling,” he said.
“We are aware that we have been given up to end of this month, but government has indicated it had budgeted about $119 000 as part payment towards settling the debt. However, even though the money is there on paper, there is no cash in real terms.” Chifokoyo added that the NPA was facing serious financial difficulties that had impacted negatively on the operations of the organisation.
“Government allocated to us a budget of $1,1 million for this financial year, but only $46 000 has been released. It was the same situation last year when we were allocated $35m in the budget, but just over $3m was released to us,” he said.
“We do not have furniture or cars even for circuit courts. It has been a challenging period. The last cars we received were in the form of a donation from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in 2008.”
With NPA head Johannes Tomana awaiting trial for abuse of office charges that commentators have argued were steeped in internal ruling Zanu PF party succession wrangles. Blighted by rampant corruption and staffers working under “deplorable conditions”, the country’s prosecution office will continue to find it difficult to execute its mandate.
