The Harare Commission of Inquiry has issued a formal apology after bribery allegations against Quill Associates were raised during a recent hearing. The accusations, which claimed that Quill Associates had paid USD$200,000 to Harare Mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume, were found to lack credible evidence and were dismissed by the Commission.
Quill Associates strongly rejected the allegations, expressing concern over the harm done to their reputation by these unproven claims. The company issued a statement highlighting that the accusations were not substantiated and appeared to be based on factors unrelated to the facts presented during the inquiry.
While the company chose not to comment on the actions of the Mayor, it emphasized that the allegations against them were unfounded and damaging. Quill Associates had already provided evidence supporting the legitimacy of their work with the City of Harare, further questioning the credibility of the bribery claims.
The company formally requested that the Commission provide evidence supporting the USD$200,000 bribery allegation, which had been made by the inquiry’s evidence leader, Mr. Tapiwa Godzi. If no evidence could be produced, Quill Associates demanded a public retraction and apology, reinforcing their commitment to defending their reputation.
Quill Associates also stressed that their engagement with the City of Harare regarding the procurement of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system in 2024 was based on multiple recommendations from authoritative bodies, including the Auditor General and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts. The company expressed surprise that the Commission was focusing on baseless bribery allegations instead of addressing systemic procurement issues within the City of Harare, which they believe are the root cause of ongoing operational challenges.
In an effort to clarify the situation, Quill Associates submitted documentation outlining difficulties encountered during previous ERP procurement processes. The company also criticized the Commission for not addressing these larger issues, which they believe should be the primary focus of the inquiry.
The company highlighted that in October 2024, the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), in consultation with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, had approved Quill Associates’ direct procurement to address the urgent need for a functional ERP system in the City of Harare. However, they pointed out that four months later, the procurement process was still incomplete, raising concerns over the speed and efficiency of the City’s procurement processes.
Quill Associates has called on the Commission to examine these discrepancies and ensure the inquiry remains focused on the facts, free from any outside influence or unfounded allegations. To support their position, the company has provided several key documents, including tender adjudication reports and a proposed transitional plan to address the ERP issues in Harare.
These documents, already submitted to the Ministry and the Commission, offer important context and insights into Quill Associates’ efforts to help improve the City’s procurement and ERP systems.
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