HARARE — The dismissal of criminal charges against former Harare Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango has raised alarm over the integrity of Zimbabwe’s judiciary and the management of procurement processes at the City of Harare. Critics are questioning whether justice has been served and whether accountability in public office is now an elusive dream.
Under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDPA) Act, Section 14 designates the Town Clerk or CEO of a local authority as the sole “Accounting Officer” responsible for procurement. Despite this, Chisango avoided prosecution, leaving a subordinate, the principal buyer, to bear the brunt of legal action over procurement irregularities.
The questions are damning: if procurement irregularities occurred, were they solely the principal buyer’s doing? If the scope of awarded contracts changed, on whose authority was it done? Such ambiguities highlight gaps in the accountability chain and fuel suspicions of corruption.
Documents reveal eight awarded lots were altered without clarity on whose orders this was done. Additionally, two awarded to Juluka were acted upon without formal letters. Payments to Juluka came from central government funds—yet it remains unclear who authorized the work or payments. These gaps reflect systemic failures in governance and oversight.
The Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) flagged procedural flaws but its findings were seemingly ignored. PRAZ’s insistence that the Accounting Officer is the sole figure legally responsible underlines Chisango’s central role, yet he faces no consequences.
Public Prosecutor Whisper Mabhaudhi, who handled high-profile cases involving Chisango, and others like Herbert Gomba and Michael Ndemera, is also under fire. Observers say judicial decisions, particularly by Judge Kwenda, demonstrate systemic flaws. Judge Kwenda, who dismissed charges against Chisango, is the same judge who controversially granted bail in the Juluka case.
Critics, including some within the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), suggest a fresh prosecutor and judge are necessary to ensure impartiality. ZACC chairperson Loice Matanda-Moyo has been urged to tackle the public perception of impunity, or risk appearing complicit.
The dismissal exemplifies Zimbabwe’s “catch and release” approach to corruption cases, where high-profile suspects often escape accountability. The ongoing Commission of Inquiry into the City of Harare must investigate the matter openly to rebuild public trust.
The people of Harare deserve transparency and justice—principles now at risk in a city rife with procurement scandals and judicial controversies. The case against Chisango may be dismissed, but the questions surrounding it remain unanswered.