‘Disgraced witnesses abuse commission’ | Business Times

KUDAKWASHE CHIBVURI

Witnesses fighting personal wars are abusing the commission of inquiry set up to probe allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption within Harare City Council, the commission heard this week.

This follows a series of allegations against council officials, councillors and other stakeholders where those fingered have now come out guns blazing accusing the commission of entertaining discredited witnesses with personal vendettas to attack individuals they have “an axe to grind with.”

The alleged abuse of the commission was confirmed on Tuesday when Councillor George Mujajati, chairperson of the Human Resources and General Purpose Committee, appeared before the commission.

Mujajati accused the Audit Committee of being abused  by some elements to fight personal wars.

The commission, led by the Retired High Court Judge, Justice Maphios Cheda, discussed an audio exhibit revealing that Audit Committee Chairperson and Ward 23 Councillor, Blessing Duma was acting under instructions from former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa and other officials.

“Yes, I am sure of the audio circulating with Nelson Chamisa ordering Duma regarding the land portion,” he said.

“Councillor Duma is the most prominent figure in these corrupt practices because he was the chairman of the special task force committee, which granted him the authority to allocate and regularize land,” he said.

Duma, sources said, is being used as a sword to attack people within the council as he is pursuing an agenda from his “paymasters” hence jeopardising efforts of the commission.

Several people have been named in alleged corrupt acts by witnesses testifying at the commission and those named include Mayor Jacob Mafume, Town Clerk Hosea Chisango, several directors among others.

Following the raised allegations mainly by Duma, complaints have been raised over his credibility to give evidence at the commission as he has issues with some office holders who he felt nailed him ahead of his firing from his council job where he was a parking marshal.

“He (Duma) is a former parking officer and was forced out because of misconduct,” a source said while dismissing his credibility to testify before the commission.

“He has a vendetta against several people including the legal department and human resources department who he felt mishandled his disciplinary hearing,” the source added.

“His vendetta with the legal department started way back during the (former Chamber Secretary Charles) Kandemiri era and when (Warren) Chiwawa took over, he started saying he was an extension of Kandemiri and was out to deal with him and other people within the council.”

Duma, sources said, is not qualified to be Audit committee chairperson as he doesn’t have the required background and qualifications.

He is also accused of interrupting council meetings with videos of him appearing visibly drunk in the chambers all over social media.

Earlier this year, Duma was caught up in a fight where he was exposed as being a drug addict and was quoted in the media warning of causing chaos by “exposing” some individuals within the council.

Following the drug addict allegations, Duma went on an explicit rant and while he appeared intoxicated.

At the time, Duma took a dig at Mafume, councillor Denford Ngadziore and Stan Manyenga among others.

He openly threatened them and ironically, he has seemingly made true his warning by appearing to expose them to the commission of inquiry.

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