Gweru City Council paid $72 000 to a private company to install high-lift water pumps at Gwenoro dam before the project was commissioned, a recent audit reveals.
BY Stephen Chadenga
According to a government audit report dated July 27, 2015, council paid Kotrium (Private) Limited $72 000 as retention fee, though the project had not yet been commissioned.
The total contractual value for the project was $1,4 million.
“Kotrium Private Limited was paid $72 000 as retention fee, for supply and installation of high-lift pump sets at Gwenoro water works,” read the audit report.
“The contract number (for the installation) was CE2/2012 and it was not commissioned and the total contractual value amounted to $ 1 497 610,50.”
The auditors recommended that council put in place mechanisms to monitor projects implementation.
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They indicated that council was losing funds by paying for malfunctioning projects at the expense ofservice delivery.
“The town clerk should monitor project implementation and ensure adequate control systems are in place to safeguard public assets,” recommended the auditors.
The audit that was carried from July 3 to 15 unearthed massive rot at the local authority, which includes among other issues abuse of council resources by both councillors and management.
