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Yeukai Karengezeka Herald Correspondent
Harare City Council (HCC) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to all non-performing contractors it engaged for various services to resolve contractual breaches failing which such companies risk having their contracts terminated.

In a statement, HCC audit committee chairman Cllr Ian Makone said the ultimatum was meant to allow them to fufill the terms of their contracts.

“Harare City Council intends to cancel non-performing contracts with a number of contractors and has given them 14 days’ notice to remedy contractual breaches,” he said.

“Failure to comply will result in council demanding money that was paid for goods and services that were not delivered as per agreement.”

Council recently instituted investigations into the delivery of goods and services and payments for the contract prices of formal tenders for the period 2016 to 2018.

“The audit committee, which I chair, looked into the matters brought before it and recommended accordingly,” said Cllr Makone. “Council is on a drive to fight corruption, increase transparency and restore normalcy in service delivery, business transactions and engagements with its various stakeholders.

“It is through this internal audit and review system that council has seen it fit to consider cancellation of non-performing contracts and to recommend to the Procurement Authority of Zimbabwe that the directors of the companies be debarred in their individual capacities and the companies that they represent and/ or own.”

Cllr Makone said the companies which were contracted were paid in United States dollars and those whose contracts are terminated will have to pay back in th same currency or the equivalent in local currency.

“The companies in question were contracted to supply various goods and services that include vehicles, plant and equipment, construction of a crematorium at Warren Hills Cemetery and a biogas plant in Mbare,” he said.

“They were all paid in United States dollars. The city is demanding its refund in the same currency or at the equivalent interbank rate at the time of refund.

“City officials who connived with the contractors will face disciplinary charges and will be referred to law enforcement agents. Council is intolerant to all forms of corruption and will follow through on any suspected cases either recent or previous.”