Mahere Demands Answers Over US$372k Senate President’s House Renovations
n By Dumisani Ndlovu n nn n Harare - Opposition leader and constitutional lawyer Fadzayi Mahere (pictured) has demanded full disclosure and accountability from Parliament following revelations that US$372,260 in public funds was spent renov
anostrofy By Dumisani Ndlovu
Harare - Opposition leader and constitutional lawyer Fadzayi Mahere (pictured) has demanded full disclosure and accountability from Parliament following revelations that US$372,260 in public funds was spent renovating the private residence of Senate President Mabel Chinomona, in transactions flagged by the Auditor-General for violating procurement laws.
In a series of targeted d posts directed at the Parliament of Zimbabwe, Mahere questioned the legality, ethics and justification of the expenditure detailed in the Auditor-General’s 2023 and 2024 reports, which show that Parliament bypassed competitive tender procedures while purchasing luxury household fittings for Chinomona’s Borrowdale home.
“How can any reasonable person justify the use of public funds to buy pillows at US$130 each?” Mahere asked, “Why should taxpayers pay US$64,000 for curtains and nearly US$58,000 for vases and chandeliers? These are not administrative errors — they are red flags," she said.
The Auditor-General Reah Kujinga, said Parliament processed multiple payments exceeding legally prescribed procurement thresholds without inviting competitive bids, exposing the institution to financial abuse.
US$116,000 for the demolition and reconstruction of a perimeter wall between June and August 2022, well above the US$20,000 open tender threshold.
US$57,874 for furniture and decorative fittings, including chandeliers and flower vases, was made despite a US$10,000 procurement ceiling.
US$60,587 for bedroom upgrades, including two queen-size beds, a super king-size bed-set, and pillow sets costing US$130 each.US$72,795 for kitchen appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, a microwave, rice cooker, kettle and air fryer.
US$64,000 for curtains installed throughout the residence, staff quarters and offices. In a written response to the audit, Parliament justified the direct procurement by citing “artistic and qualitative reasons.”
Kujinga dismissed the explanation, warning that failure to invite bids “restricts competition and may result in uneconomic procurement.”
Mahere challenged Parliament to publish Chinomona’s conditions of service, identify the suppliers involved and explain why procurement laws were ignored.
“If Parliament is to hold the executive accountable, it must first obey the law itself.
"Is the Senate President above the very laws Parliament enacts?” She asked.
Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti escalated the matter, calling for a full forensic audit of Parliament, warning that Zimbabwe’s key oversight institution is itself sinking into corruption.
“The question is, if Parliament, the oversight body, becomes corrupt, who will guard the guards?” Biti asked.
Biti further argued that the spending spree must be viewed within a broader political context, alleging increased financial flows to Parliament ahead of deliberations linked to the 2030 governance agenda.
Following tabling of the audit reports, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Kuwadzana East MP Charlton Hwende, summoned senior parliamentary officials.
The officials however initially resisted appearing and later demanded that media be barred, claiming the hearings involved sensitive data.
Investigations by the Bulawayo based online media outlet, Centre for Innovation and Technology (CITE) revealed receipts for the transactions and identified the companies handpicked for the renovations.
John Maketo, Executive Director for the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD), said the findings severely undermine public confidence.
“These revelations destroy the credibility of our oversight institutions. Parliament must uphold the highest standards of integrity and comply with public financial management laws,” Maketo said, while praising the Auditor-General for continuing to expose systemic abuse despite political pressure.
The scandal adds to a growing list of procurement controversies involving Parliament.
In 2022, leaked documents revealed that Blinart Investments (Pvt) Ltd was awarded a contract to supply 173 laptops for US$1.6 million, about US$9,200 per device, while another company supplied desktops at US$3,000 each.
A Parliamentary Accounts Committee inquiry later probed alleged kickbacks, but no action followed.
The 2024 audit also exposed irregular fuel allocations, with senior staff, Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda’s office, reportedly allocating themselves hundreds of litres beyond authorised limits.
The Office of the Senate President has not issued an official response.
While parliamentary sources claim the residence qualifies as “official,” critics argue that such entitlements must be clearly defined, transparent and legally governed, standards they say were ignored.
