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OpenHarare Corruption Probe Faces Setback After Death Of Key Witness
A commission of inquiry appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to investigate suspected financial mismanagement and corruption in Harare has faced a major setback with the death of Dr Funny Machipisa, a crucial witness who was expected to testify about corruption at the town house, reported Business Times.
Machipisa, who was the District Administration Manager, had gathered a dossier detailing instances of corruption, including irregular allocations of residential and commercial stands by councillors and officials.
Council announced on Monday that Machipisa passed away on Sunday without revealing on the cause of his death.
Before his death this week in Harare, Machipisa had alleged that there were attempts to demote him to a lower position as a tactic to silence him and hinder his testimony.
Thabani Mpofu, the lead investigator for the commission, expressed shock at Machipisa’s passing. He said:
I am devastated because he was expected to appear (before the commission of inquiry) soon.
In a letter dated 9 July 2024, Machipisa said he was forced out because he opposed the councillors’ plan to have residential and commercial stands in wealthy suburbs instead of their own wards. He said:
After I had worked hard in processing reports to council for the allocation of 2 224 residential stands I informed the 59 councillors that they were to be allocated residential stands within their respective wards in terms of the government directive of 2020.
This did not go down well with the councillors as they said they wanted to be allocated stands in leafy suburbs such as Borrowdale, Highlands, Greendale, Mt Pleasant, Malbereign where stands had been created.
Machipisa said he warned the councillors that they were in breach of a government directive. He wrote before his demise:
I am the focal person on housing matters in the department and their plan to remove me from office is to avoid my submission of information to the commission of inquiry which is currently investigating the City of Harare on various issues.
Any new person as my replacement will obviously have no information to submit and can be coerced to profess ignorance on housing matters.
Cartels and cabals have been employed to settle scores against both councillors and officials.
Machipisa had served the council for 41 years before his passing.
Mpofu raised concerns about losing contact with senior council official Matthew Marara, who is supposed to testify regarding corruption in the capital.
Marara is involved in a controversial US$ 300,000 payout from the council before his controversial reinstatement.
The situation has implicated councillors, who now face accusations of complicity.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Thursday afternoon, the Harare City Council said Machipisa was due to retire at the end of 2025. It said:
The late head of Council District Administration Dr Funny Machipisa was buried yesterday at his Bvochora homestead in Guruve. He passed away on 13 October.
Dr Machipisa was due for retirement on December 31, 2025. He had been with the City of Harare for 41 years.
Dr. Machipisa left a legacy that will forever be cherished in council. Dozens of workers including senior management from the City of Harare attended the ceremony.
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