The Airport Road deal involving Augur Investments has lately been simmering with litigation threats from Ken Sharpe against lawyer Tino Chinyoka. However, oft overlooked is the role of @zinaraZW in humongous financial losses when it intervened in 2014. @4lowthemoney pic.twitter.com/n1maAuDTr4
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 20, 2024
In 2014, after delays in the completion of the road raised pressure on Augur which had been contracted to make it, ZINARA took over the project. Augur had only completed a small stretch of the road, which it claimed cost US$20 million.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 20, 2024
Augur argued that the total project would cost US$80m. This raised questions as bigger projects such as the 77km Ngezi Road in Chegutu by Zimplats cost only US$19 million, yet it is structurally one of the best roads in Africa and can carry massive road trains. @4lowthemoney
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 20, 2024
ZINARA's takeover of the project didn't bring much sanity as it led to massive losses most of which were a result of veiled corrupt actions such as overpricing.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 20, 2024
According to a report by the Auditor General, the taxpayer could have lost millions due to the use of old equipment and, yet again, a shady tender processes.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 20, 2024
The report says half of the $7 million project cost paid by Zinara and the Department of Roads had gone towards paying for the hiring of equipment.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 20, 2024
According to the AG's report it was observed that 52% of the project amount was consumed with equipment hire, 36% by major road-related materials, 8% of the amount went to wages and lastly 4 % was used on other accessories and safety materials.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 20, 2024
Much of that equipment barely worked: “Ageing equipment on the project and low efficiency leading to frequent breakdown and stalling of lead activities pushed the cost of the project upwards.”
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 20, 2024
The equipment that did work was moved between the airport road and other projects so often that, the audit says, there was a risk of double payments by government.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 20, 2024
Zinara lost at least $100,000 in over-ordering. Construction materials either disappeared or were left idle.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 20, 2024
During one inspection run, Auditors found a crusher worth $40,000 lying idle on the roadside. Bitumen worth $20,000 had been left to go to waste, while other materials were being bought for more than they were worth.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 20, 2024
As a result through the move to engage ZINARA, Harare City Council ratepayers lost money and land, while national taxpayers, after Zinara’s takeover, also lost millions.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 20, 2024
A report by Harare councillors summarised it in their report, the airport road project “was not done in the best interests of the country in general and the council in particular.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 20, 2024
A road that should have cost around US$10m ended up gobbling up to US$80m with puzzling questions of how that could be.
— OpenCouncilHRE (@OpenCouncilHRE) March 20, 2024
