Town Clerk ‘ripped off’ ratepayers by purchasing his own Land Cruiser Prado at more than double its market value
Upenyu Chaota
Corruption-accused Masvingo Town Clerk Edward Mukaratirwa will next week return to court in a case which presents a litmus test for criminal law authorities’ seriousness in prosecuting high-level corruption, EnviroPress can report.
The beleaguered Mukaratirwa (pictured), who stands accused of fraud and criminal abuse of office, and is currently out on US$200 bail, returns to court on August 09, 2024, to stand trial. He is currently out of office on forced leave, albeit with full benefits.
Mukaratirwa’s troubles began with the recent release of the 2023 Auditor General’s report which laid bare a litany of maladministration and alleged corrupt practices at the local authority.
These included the procurement of the Town Clerk’s Toyota Land Cruiser Prado VL-X 70th Anniversary condition of service vehicle at over 200 percent more than its market value.
“During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Council procured a motor vehicle Prado VX-L from a local car dealer at ZWL$27.4 million.
“According to the letter dated November 30, 2021, the Minister of Local Government and Public Works authorized the Council to procure a non-locally assembled vehicle at a cost of USD109 151 which translate to ZWL$11.9 million on the date of purchase.
“However, I noted that the Council procured this vehicle at a cost of ZWL$27.4 million which translates to USD251 816 (27362400/108.666) using the RBZ mid-rate on that date.
“Council procurement records showed that another local bidder had quoted USD109 900 but was disqualified on the basis that the quote was not in ZWL$. Comparing these quotes on the same base currency showed that the Council could have saved USD141 916. This was not in line with the Ministerial approval,” reads part of the Auditor General’s report on City of Masvingo.
The municipality, however, maintained that the procurement of Mukaratirwa’s vehicle was above board.
“The procurement of the Land Cruiser Prado was done after the granting of authority by the Permanent Secretary for Local Government. The price of UD$109 151 which was provided to the Minister on application was indicative so that the Minister would have an appreciation of the cost of the vehicle.
“The proper procurement process was duly-followed through competitive bidding and the authorised model of vehicle was procured.
“The funding which was available to procure the vehicle was the local currency, therefore our bidding document requested bidders to bid in local currency which was available,” reads the council’s response to the Auditor General.
Research conducted by this publication showed that Mukaratirwa’s Toyota Prado VX-L, supplied by local supplier Byword Motors at a whopping cost of US$251 798, had a market value of around US$90 000 at the time. This means Mukaratirwa apparently prejudiced Masvingo ratepayers of US$161 798, an amount that could have procured another vehicle of the same model, leaving out change of US$70 000.
On charge 2, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) alleges that Mukaratirwa misrepresented to the council that a Toyota Hilux motor vehicle that he had been using as the Deputy City Engineer prior to his elevation to Acting Town Clerk, and later substantive Town Clerk, was allocated to him as a condition of service vehicle when in actual fact it was not.
“The accused person misrepresented to the Masvingo City Council that a Toyota Hilux motor vehicle he was using had been allocated to him as a condition of service vehicle yet the vehicle was given as a donation by the African Development Bank for the maintenance of water supply and sanitation infrastructure within Masvingo,” reads a statement from the National Prosecuting Authority.
The Toyota Hilux double cab was then transferred to Mukaratirwa’s personal name.
At the moment, Masvingo suffers poor service delivery; with many street corners in town not having something as basic as rubbish bins. Drainage systems are clogged and water supply remains erratic. The few public toilets available are hardly usable as they are never properly cleaned with disinfectant, and many sanitary lanes behind buildings are laced with human faeces.
Mukaratirwa refused to provide a comment when this reporter called him on his mobile phone.
Mukaratirwa’s meteoric rise from the deputy city engineer to the Town Clerk was controversial after it was reported that political influence, and not merit alone, played a part in his rise.
Sources have informed EnviroPress that the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira has since summoned council directors to mobilise support for the embattled Town Clerk.
However, other local powerful members of the ruling Zanu PF party who previously supported Mukaratirwa in his meteoric rise are said to be disillusioned by him, and they accuse him of embarrassing President Emmerson Mnangagwa by getting embroiled in corruption scandals a few months after the President named him the country’s best municipal manager.
Click here to read how Mukaratirwa controversially rose, against provisions of the Urban Council Act, to the post of Acting Town Clerk, before becoming substantive Town Clerk upon the retirement of the now late Adolf Gusha in 2018.
