The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission has launched a full scale investigation into the disappearance of US$4,5 million from Harare Quarry, turning the spotlight on the City of Harare after years of silence and unanswered questions.
The probe comes amid growing concern over how the multimillion dollar loan released in 2017 to recapitalise the municipal quarry vanished without trace and why it took seven years for the matter to be reported to the commission.
ZACC spokesperson Commissioner Kindness Paradza confirmed that investigators are already on the ground.
“I can confirm that ZACC officially received the report and investigations are ongoing.
“Let me also clarify that when a report is made it does not mean we will immediately effect arrests because investigations must establish whether there is a case or not,” he said.
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“For now I cannot give any further details but simply confirm that investigations are ongoing.”
According to The Herald, a forensic audit by Parker Randall Chartered Accountants, commissioned in June 2021, examined operations between December 2017 and June 2019 and uncovered extensive mismanagement of the loan.
Harare Quarry is accused of operating in secrecy since 2018, failing to declare revenue, profits or dividends to council.
The audit also revealed that about fifty six thousand United States dollars may have been paid to ghost workers for almost a year.
Millions more could not be traced due to missing payment vouchers and key financial records.
Yet despite the explosive findings, no police report was filed for years.
Mayor Jacob Mafume only notified ZACC and the police in February this year after being grilled by the Harare Commission of Inquiry over the city’s failure to act.
Residents say the repeated delays have eroded trust.
Accountant and Harare resident Trymore Timuri urged the city to show urgency.
“Given that both ZACC and the police rely on evidence, City Council officials must demonstrate a willingness to cooperate and furnish that evidence,” he said.
“The incompetence of the city’s authorities is shown by the mere fact that no arrests have been made to date.
“By now we should have seen demonstrable action. To restore faith, heads must roll.”
Combined Harare Residents Association director Reuben Akili said the silence around the scandal is alarming.
“It is very disappointing that those responsible for the management of Harare Quarry have faced no consequences.
“We expected an update in the council’s budget presentation but nothing was included. We will therefore raise this matter as an objection,” he said.
Residents insist that the quarry scandal is now a defining test of the city’s political will to fight corruption.
