Psychology Chiwanga

School / Education

No information could be found on his Junior or High School, or any tertiary education.

Service / Career

Not detailed.

Events

Water Treatment

In April, 2005, Harare City Council ran out of oxidising agent — Ecol 2000, weeks after awarding the tender to supply to Highdon Investments under controversial circumstances. The tender is worth several billions of dollars per month. Awarding of the tender was heavily disputed after first choice winner MT&N lost the bid in as yet unclear circumstances.

Ecol 2000 is used to destroy algae (chlorophyll-containing organisms) which clog filters at Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Plant and they also remove odours from the water. Algae grow extensively in Lake Chivero and if the chemical is not used, a lot of treated water would be wasted in cleaning up the sieves. Director of Works, Mr Psychology Chiwanga confirmed that the city had run out of the chemical. "Yes there are no oxidising agents. The supplier did not deliver. It is true at the moment we have nothing. We are making frantic efforts to get the supplier to deliver," said Mr Chiwanga.

The Highdon Investments consignment was at the Beitbridge Border Post awaiting the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority clearance, and as soon as that was done, company delivery trucks were expected in Harare. Reports indicate that the losing tenderer MT&N had stocks of the chemical in the country but because council awarded the tender to Highdon Investments it could not buy from MT&N.

The commission procurement committee, during its meeting on 7 February, awarded the contract to MT&N because its price of $19 320 for a kg of the chemical was lower than Highdon Investments’ $25 254 per kg. But that decision was rescinded during a full commission meeting on 10 March with the commission arguing that MT&N had failed to produce certificates of approval from recognised organisations for the chemical. ^[1]

Airport Road

The June 2008 contract to upgrade the Airport Road was taken over by ZINARA, and was due to be completed by the end of 2014.

Harare City Council Town Clerk, Tendai Mahachi, and the director of urban planning services, Psychology Chiwanga, members of the board of directors of Augur Investments, were part of the appointed Commission that awarded the CoH contract to Augur Investments.

Questions were asked on the cost of the project. Bigger projects such as the construction of the 77km Ngezi Road in Chegutu by Zimplats cost only US$19 million, and is structurally one of the best roads in Africa, built to carry massive road trains. Costing of the Airport Road was US$28,1 million for the dual carriage way and slip roads and US$35,7 million for the five flyover bridges, with US$4,8 million for professional fees and provisional sums to cover items such as street lighting. The total cost was therefore US$68,6 million. ^[2]

Land sales

In May 2013, Councillors Girisoti Mandere, Thomas Muzuva and Masiye Kapare and the director of Urban Planning Services, Psychology Chiwanga, were leased land in Msasa for half the price paid by other members of the public. A council meeting allowed this despite official admissions that tender procedures were violated.

The City’s finance and development sub-committee resolved to lease 10 industrial stands to the four council insiders and six other firms (including Annual Trading, Parsof Investments, Elandriff, Rodrig Haulage, Glasglow Investments and Jacana Investments) at 30 cents per square metre per month. The leases are valid for a decade. Councillors terms expired in less than two months. Land with the same economic value were recently sold at 60 cents per square metre to members of the public.

Council chief whip Victor Chifodya protested to council about the committee’s unfair business practices. Councillor Sasha Jogi demanded that the committee should explain why the land is being parcelled to officials at such a low price. Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda had initially decided to defer the resolution until council demands were satisfied, however Committee’s chair Cllr Friday Muleya pleaded for the deal to be passed. “The land valuers have done their job and recommended to us what they saw. As for the reasons, we will provide later but let it pass for now,” said Muleya. And it was passed.

The stands range from 3 266 to 11 887 square metres meaning the smallest stand is almost 11 times the size of a standard high density suburb stand. According to council policy, the stands are supposed to be leased through tender. This was not done. After the stipulated 10 years of leasing, the beneficiaries will be given an option to purchase the land on condition that “a principal building is erected within the initial lease period”. ^[3]

Minister's land sales

From a Councillors investigation, “Director (of Urban Planning Services) Psychology Chiwanga responded to the Minister’s application advising him that he would assist Dr Chombo to get the stand.” “The Director also recommended to Council that, the Minister be sold the stand without going to tender as per Council Policy.”

For example, on 25 March 2008, council pegged the price on the property and, the very same day, sold the stand to Chombo. Three days after Chombo bought the property, the council applied for “change of land use,” to allow it to be used for residential purposes. Who did the council apply to? To Chombo himself. It was, predictably, approved immediately.

“Director Chiwanga was acting more like Minister Ignatius Chombo’s agent since he influenced the Commission to sell the stand without going to tender as per the Council policy and he continuously updated him on progress on the matter,” the report said.

The councillors investigating committee found that the Minister would spot a piece of land he liked, informed his allies at council, have them hold off any other bidders, before having council apply to him for change of land use of the stand he wanted. This is how Chombo ended up with a swathe of properties, all owned through a web of shelf companies. He benefited from these irregularities by acquiring several stands for himself through his Investment Vehicle companies, which include Harvest-net investments, Waywick Investments, Waycorn Investments, Tonewick Investments and Nedbourne Investments.”

The report states: “Contrary to Council policy that an individual must not get more than one residential property from the Council, the Minister acquired vast tracts of land within Greater Harare and registered them in companies associated with him.” ^[4]

Town Clerk bid

His bid to be appointed to the position of Town Clerk failed when in March 2017, James Mushore landed the job. ^[5]

Early retirement

In a move Harare City Council believed would save US$2 million monthly, council reduced the retirement age from 65 to 60 and treasurer Mr Misheck Mubvumbi, business development manager Mr Cosmas Zvikaramba, housing and community services manager Mr Justine Chivavaya, Urban planning services manager Mr Psychology Chiwanga, Mr Stanley Mungofa (health) and director amenities Mr Dombo Chibanda and over 1 000 workers were sent home.

In November 2017, Rita Makarau of the Supreme Court quashed the Labour Court ruling confirming council’s decision to retire Mr Mubvumbi, before he reached the age of 65, hence the retirement was illegal. ^[6]

The 2014 forced retirement of six CoH employees has been challenged in court, with Justice Rita Makarau sitting with Ben Hlatshwayo and Bharat Patel setting aside the retirements. Others who may now claim wrongful dismissal and payments include former business development manager Cosmas Zvikaramba, housing and community services manager Justine Chivavaya, Urban planning services manager Psychology Chiwanga, Stanley Mungofa (health) and director amenities Dombo Chibanda. ^[7]

Arrest

In November 2017 he was arrested and charged as an accomplice on Ignatius Chombo’s three counts of corruption. He appeared before magistrate Ms Josephine Sande who remanded him in custody to December 8. His lawyer told the court that he needed time to consult with his client before any application is made.

Included in Ignatius Chombo’s charges is one of violating Section 4(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Chapter 9:16) when he allegedly connived with Chiwanga, R. Pazvakavambwa, Iben Fransisco, James Chiyangwa, Theresa Chenjerayi, Elias Choto and L. Chimimba to forge documents to transfer a Glen Lorne, Harare, property from the Harare City Council to one Alois Chimeri. ^[8]

On appearing in court, he was charged with contravening a section of the Prevention of Corruption Act after he allegedly facilitated the transfer of council property worth $900 000 into former Finance minister Ignatius Chombo’s name. He was represented by Nelson Makunyire and appeared before magistrate Josephine Sande. He was not asked to plead, and was remanded in custody to 8 December.

Details of the allegations are that on a date unknown to the State, Chiwanga, working in connivance with Chombo, together with an R Pazvakavambwa, Iben Francisco, James Chiyangwa, Theresa Chenjerayi, Elias Choto and an L Chimimba, (who were still at large), wrote a document dated November 19, 2004 to the City of Harare indicating that he had no objection to a property in Glen Lorne being transferred into Chombo’s name. The State alleges when Chiwanga wrote the letter, he knew he had no authority from the City of Harare to consent to the transfer of the council’s property.

Further, the State alleges on June 25, 2008, Chiwanga wrote another letter advising that Chombo had disposed of the property to Alois Ndaziva Chimeri and that the stand was to be transferred into Chimeri’s name. By so doing, Chiwanga acted contrary to and inconsistent with his duties as a public officer as his actions had the effect of showing favour to Chombo and Chimeri.

A report was made to the police on November 23 2017 and investigations led to Chiwanga’s arrest. Edmore Nyazanda appeared for the State. ^[9]

Further Reading

Early retirement. ^[10]

Town clerk. ^[11]

Council land probe. ^[12]

Illegalities. ^[13]