Harare City Council officials stand accused of looting around 100 cattle per month from the city’s paddocks amid allegations that the council farm has become a “looting paradise” for corrupt individuals.
The claims were unveiled during a public hearing on Thursday, where suspended town clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango testified before the commission.
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Harare City Council Officials Accused of Looting 100 Cattle Every Month
The paddocks, which usually house 3,000 cattle, have reportedly been losing over 100 animals monthly under questionable circumstances. Thabani Mpofu, leading evidence during the inquiry, pressed Eng. Chisango on the mysterious cattle deaths and alleged thefts.
“The information that we received is that of those 3,000 cattle that you have, over 100 cattle are said to die every month, and the allegation is that these cattle are being looted,” Mpofu said.
He added that city officials have allegedly been disguising the thefts as cattle deaths caused by natural causes.
In his defence, Eng. Chisango argued that the farm’s primary purpose was sewage treatment and effluent management, with cattle introduced as a secondary activity. He admitted, however, that there were no effective systems in place to account for the animals.
“I have not seen the report, but my thoughts on the situation are that, as a council, we focus more on wastewater management. That is why we wanted to explore it as a business opportunity, allowing us to bring in experts to properly care for the animals,” said Eng. Chisango.
Mpofu criticised the lack of oversight, saying the situation at the farm enabled rampant looting by city officials.
Revelations From The Commission of Inquiry
The Commission of Inquiry into the Harare City Council, led by Justice Maphios Cheda, has uncovered several alarming issues.
Testimonies revealed that land barons have taken control of the city, with proper town planning procedures abandoned. It was alleged that the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party regularised illegal stands to win urban votes.
The Commission also unravelled that Harare City Council was in the process of acquiring a new ERP system for US$57 million from a South African firm despite not accounting for US$200 million in its previous accounts.
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