23 September 2022
08:00 Hours CAT
Zim GBC News
By Clive. T Dube
Corruption in Zimbabwe is on the fast lane outpacing every measure to arrest it let alone contain it.
Social media in the past days has been awashed with a laptop scandal, which saw the parliament awarding a tender where a single laptop would cost US$ 9 265,48.
Our research reveals that a laptop which can cost this much is a modified gaming machine which has Core i7-7820HK process, 21-inch curved ultrawide display with a 2560 x 1080 resolution, a 120 Hz on specks.
In the mist of the storm is the Clerk of Parliement Kennedy Chokuda and Secretary of Finance and Economic Development George Guvamatanga for awarding the tender to Bilnart Investments P/L and Mid-End Computers and Hardware P/L to acquire 173 laptops and 79 desktops respectively.
When the documents to such astronomical shot changing of the tax payer’ money were leaked the treasury rejected the tender.
“Treasury notes with concern that these suppliers are charging US$ 9264.48 and US$ 3 076.61 for a laptop and desktop respectively. These US dollar prices have been exorbitantly inflated way beyond those that are prevailing in the market and hence are not acceptable.
“In this regard and to ensure value for money for government, in line with the Public Finance Management Act [Chapter 22:19] which empowers Treasury to manage and control public resources, Treasury directs that this tender be cancelled, and the concerned suppliers be blacklisted from any future Government procurement process,” reads the cancellation memo
It is therefore clear that the laptops needed at parliament were normal laptops which in, Bulawayo would cost between US$ 350 to US$ 500. At these rates, the treasury would have only paid around $86 500.
If one had to give benefit of doubt to Bilnart Investments P/L and assumed that the company did supply the laptops worth US$ 9 265.48 each, what will the Parliament of Zimbabwe, which is meant to help built, protect and sustain the country, do with a gaming laptop during these troubling times were the country finds itself ranked the highest in the world inflationary figures.
Renowned Zimbabweam journalist Hopewell Chin’no through his twitter handle (@daddyhope) said,
” Look at this AFRICA! When we tell you that the ZANUPF Government is LOOTING public funds, this is it. They are charging the State US$9,264 for 1 lap top. The tender supplied 173 laptops getting a total of US$1,602 755. Another one got US$243,052 for 79 desktops at US$3,076 each.”
It is with great concern how top ranking officials involved in fraudulent deals walk scot-free. Other Corruption scandals such as the Gwanda solar project involving businessman Wichnell Chivayo and top management officials lof the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) remains unsolved for more than 7 years now. Ironically Chivayo still wants another opportunity to finish the installation and puts all the blame onto ZPC.
The other unresolved matter is that of Zimbabwe Miners Federation(ZMF) boss Henrietta Rushwayo with family ties to President Emerson Mnangagwa. Rushwayo last year August was found in possession of 6.9kg of gold with intent to smuggle at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport but in just two momths she was granted bail at a cost of ZW$10 000 which is equivalent or less than US$10.
Meanwhile opposition officials spend several months or years in prison, the likes of opposition member of parliament Job Sikhala and associates on allegations for inciting violence.
Independent member of parliament for Norton Constituency Honourable Themba P Mliswa said,
“Corruption apologists are raising pseudo- intellectual arguments about the dictates of the law and strength of the case in relation to Wadyajena case and yet shun the same when we cite the abuse of @ jobsikhala1.”
ZANU PF MP for Gokwe Nembudziya Constituency Justice Mayor Wadyajena stands accused of looting almost US$6 million public funds. Last month the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) posted a tweet confirming the arrest of Wadyajena and seizure of his assets after attempting to smuggle out lavish cars.
Surprisingly the investigation body deleted the tweet. The loopholes within ZACC leaves the Zimbabwean citizens to question the bodys capability to perform its mandatory duties when it comes to arresting top ZANU-PF government officials.
“There cannot be anything more evil than what ZAAC is doing against the fourth accused. This court is now being dragged into some political games and the public is crying that ZAAC is arresting and releasing people; it has turned into a ‘catch-and-release’ game,” Marwa said.
As it stands Wadyajena is a free man out on a bail of ZW$200 000 and still is the chairman of the portfolio committe on Lands, Agriculture, Climate and Water despite all the criminal charges brought against him.
Also speaker of parliament Jacob Mudenda demanded the court to release the passport of the accused in order to travel to Britian on a ‘business trip’ and his accused accomplice cottco boss Maxmore Njanji also got his passport released.
Fraud charges against Wadyajena and Mayor logistics stand to be dropped as through his lawyer Mr. Oliver Marwa challenges the court to drop all charges since Cottco did not lay any charges, to this Hopewell Chin’no wrote on Twitter,
“how could Cottco complain when the money was LOOTED through the connivance of its management which was arrested”
The President of the Country ED Mnangangwa has ever complained about corruption, but unfortunately his sentiments are blown away by the wind.
Corruption has eroded the economic growth of the country and continues to do so as ZANU-PF apologists continue to reign supreme.
Zim GBC News