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Fidelis Munyoro, Chief Court Reporter

HARARE Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango was yesterday granted US$500 bail by the High Court pending trial on charges of criminal abuse of duty over a street lighting tender.

Chisango had appealed to the High Court against the decision of the remand magistrate  to deny him bail on the grounds that he was not a suitable candidate for bail and was likely to interfere with State witnesses.

Justice Pisirayi Kwenda allowed the appeal by Chisango and ordered him to pay bail coupled with the normal conditions, to ensure he attends court. Chisango (54) is charged along with Artkins Mandaza (42), principal contracts administrator.

Charges against the two arose when they allegedly unlawfully awarded a lucrative street lighting tender to Juluka Enndo Joint Venture, a company in which Moses Mpofu, currently in custody, holds a majority stake.

This decision contravened a previous ruling that disqualified Juluka Enndo for failing to meet bid requirements.

The tender was allegedly granted to a company linked to Synlak (Pvt) Ltd, notorious for failing to deliver on a biogas digester project awarded in 2019.

Such actions violated the standard bidding conditions, which bar bidders with poor performance records.

In collaboration with the evaluation committee, Mandaza allegedly drafted the contract between the City of Harare and the company, represented by Mpofu, using an improper procurement method without seeking necessary exemptions from the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe.

Further complicating the case, Chisango sought an advance payment of US$9 million from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, though the payment was ultimately not processed.