The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent
SIX Rusape General Hospital managers who were facing charges of defrauding the institution through corruptly flouting tender procedures for their own benefit last Tuesday walked free after a magistrate ruled that they have no cased to answer.
Magistrate, Mr Shingi Mutiro, ruled that the State case against the six who forms the procurement committee of the hospital was very weak and that State witnesses failed to provide incriminating evidence against them.
The six, Munashe Ngwaru (the administrator), Stephen Munyuku, Celani Moyo, William Dhliwayo, Luke Bandama and Paul Chikaonda were represented by Mr Taurai Khupe of Khupe Law Chambers and Mr Leonard Chigadza of Chigadza and Associates respectively.
The State case collapsed when Mr Chigadza and Mr Khupe shredded witnesses’ evidence during cross-examination. The witnesses were auditors and officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
It was the State’s case led by Mr Tafara Chawatama that the six flouted tender processes by not publishing tenders in Government gazettes or through newspapers and they also continuously awarded tenders to the same companies.
“During the period extending from August 1, 2015 to September 16, 2016, the accused persons who constitute the procurement tender committee of Rusape General Hospital whose duties among others included awarding tenders to suppliers for the hospital connived and awarded tenders to companies without following proper procedure for the purpose of showing favour to the companies.
“That is to say they awarded tender numbers 37/2015, 38/2015 and 20/2016 to Ocean Clean Enterprises, Sideridge Enterprises, Weatherford Enterprises and K and Sons Agencies of Mutare without publishing a notice requesting for suppliers to submit proposals for the provision of service in the newspapers widely circulating in the respective area and they did not purchase Government Gazzette with a list of national suppliers approved by State Procurement Board,” said the State.
