By Takudziridzwa Nyama
Two former Harare City officials, Phillip Mabingo Pfukwa (75) and Josephine Ncube (62), have been arraigned before the Harare Regional Anti-Corruption Magistrates’ Court on charges of criminal abuse of office.
The duo is accused of unlawfully awarding a US$465,290 contract to Synlak Pvt Ltd, a company owned by Moses Mpofu, for the Mbare Biogas Project.
According to the reports, In 2013, the City of Harare secured a €350,500 grant from the European Union (EU) to design and construct biogas digesters and install a 100KVA biogas generator for the Mbare Biogas Project. Procurement procedures required a transparent tender process overseen by the Town Clerk and the Procurement Committee.
However, in March 2015, after receiving four bids, Pfukwa (then Director of Works) and Ncube (then Chamber Secretary) bypassed procurement procedures and unlawfully awarded the tender to Synlak Pvt Ltd, a company owned by Moses Mpofu, despite the applicant’s failure to meet standard requirements.
The duo falsified internal memos and misrepresented Synlak’s eligibility, ensuring it won the contract.
In December 2015, Ncube fraudulently signed off the contract, allowing Synlak to receive full payment of US$465,290 despite the company failing to deliver on the project.
The duo have been remanded to the 14th of May 2025, pending indictment to the High Court.