Friday, September 18

Borrowdale residence of Senate President Mabel Chinomona

Oversight without restraint

Parliament spent US$372,260 of public money renovating the private Borrowdale residence of Senate President Mabel Chinomona, using handpicked suppliers while repeatedly bypassing procurement requirements, according to the Auditor-General’s 2023 and 2024 reports. 

 

 

 

 

Payments for luxury items — including curtains, beds, kitchen appliances and a perimeter wall — exceeded legal thresholds that require open tendering. Competitive bids were not invited.

 

Parliament defended the direct procurement on “artistic and qualitative” grounds. 

 

The Auditor-General rejected this justification, warning that bypassing bidding restricts competition and may result in uneconomic procurement.

 

Neither Parliament nor the Senate President has publicly disputed the Auditor-General’s findings.

 

 

 

 

The reports do not allege theft. They expose something more fundamental: a governance failure inside the institution charged with enforcing accountability.

 

When oversight stops obeying the law, the failure is not dramatic. It is procedural. And it is documented.

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Info News

Best Mortgage Refinance Companies for Homeowners With Equity

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Mortgage refinancing activity is rising again in 2026.

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Homeowners with strong equity positions are searching for ways to lower payments, reduce interest costs, or access cash for major expenses.

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But refinancing is not always automatically smart.

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The details matter.

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Why Homeowners Refinance

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People refinance for several reasons.

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These include:

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  • Lower interest rates
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  • Debt consolidation
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  • Home renovations
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  • Cash-out refinancing
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  • Shorter loan terms
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The right refinance strategy depends heavily on financial goals.

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What Lenders Evaluate

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Mortgage refinance companies usually review:

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  • Credit scores
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  • Home equity
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  • Debt-to-income ratios
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  • Employment history
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  • Property value
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Borrowers with strong equity often qualify for better rates.

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Risks of Refinancing

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Refinancing can create problems if borrowers ignore:

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  • Closing costs
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  • Extended loan terms
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  • Adjustable-rate risks
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  • Reduced home equity
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Lower monthly payments do not always mean lower long-term costs.

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Final Takeaway

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The best mortgage refinance companies help borrowers balance interest savings, long-term financial goals, and loan flexibility.

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A refinance should improve financial stability instead of creating new debt pressure.

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FAQ

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What credit score is needed to refinance?

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Requirements vary, though stronger credit usually improves rates.

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Is refinancing worth it in 2026?

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It depends on interest rates, equity levels, and long-term financial goals.

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