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Innocent Ruwende Senior Reporter
Three Harare councillors, who were suspended on allegations of flouting tender procedures after awarding a $13,8 million sewer deal to a local company, refused to appear before a probe team set up to look into the veracity of the allegations.

Councillors Urayayi Mangwiro, Wilton Janjazi and Paula Macharangwanda – who were suspended for their involvement in the opaque deal — on Wednesday said they were not given ample time to respond to the allegations.

However, councillors and officials assisting with investigations appeared before the investigation team led by Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing chief financial advisor Mr Alpha Nhamo.

Other members of the probe team from the ministry are principal quantity surveyor Ms Getrude Nhidza and principal administrative officer (Urban Local Authorities) Mr Leonard Gopozah.

“We were not given ample time to respond to the allegations,” said one of the suspended councillors.

“We told the investigation team that we had given the suspension letters to our lawyers so they can respond.”

The investigation team was given five days and was supposed to have completed investigations yesterday before compiling a report for Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere.

The three councillors are facing three counts of gross misconduct.

On the first count, they are accused of failing to float a tender for the rehabilitation of Firle Sewerage Treatment Works.

On count two, the councillors, who were members of the Municipal Procurement Board during the period in question, are accused of unprocedurally awarding a tender to Energy Resources African Consortium and failing or ignoring to put in place a tender formulation team, a tender verification team and an adjudication committee.

On count three, the trio is alleged to have caused financial losses to the city by not following council’s tender procedures to the tune of an estimated $1,9 million, which could have been avoided if stipulated council procedures were followed.

Council awarded a contract to Energy Resources Africa Consortium for the rehabilitation of Firle Sewerage Works before the company was formally registered and, since 2011, proceeded to pay it millions despite not having signed a contract.