STATE Procurement Board (SPB) executive chairman Charles Kuwaza’s feud with Finance minister Tendai Biti is turning nasty with Kuwaza lashing out at the minister for accusing the SPB of corruption and inefficiency.
REPORT BY EVERSON MUSHAVA CHIEF REPORTER
Biti has on several occasions accused the SPB of corruption in the way they awarded tenders to undeserving companies, proposing the task to award tenders be given to line ministries.
But, in a letter dated January 14 addressed to the National Economic Conduct Inspectorate acting director Samuel Nkomo and in apparent reference to Biti and sections of the media, Kuwaza said the same people who were accusing his board of being corrupt had dirty hands.
“These same people shout loudest about corruption when their own houses are reeking with sickening odours,” charged Kuwaza. He was responding to a damning report titled Investigations Report on the Procurement Processes by Government Hospitals under the Targeted Approach by the National Economic Conduct Inspectorate (NECI).
A research conducted in several government hospitals including Parirenyatwa, Harare, Mpilo, Mutare, Gweru Provincial, Masvingo Provincial, Marondera Provincial and United Bulawayo hospitals allegedly unearthed massive corruption and flouting of SPB regulations and procedures in the procurement of medical equipment.
However, Kuwaza in his letter said the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission had cleared officials from his board of wrongdoing.
He also denied ever admitting that some of his officers were corrupt.
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“As a matter of fact, the Anti-Corruption Commission subpoenaed all the minutes of the SPB on July 13 2012, when four officers ploughed through more than 150 copies of the thick weekly records of meetings,” Kuwaza said.
“On several occasions, we have been accused of corruption and as recently as last week, I was falsely accused of admitting that some ‘officers corruptly awarded tenders to bidders’. I never said that.
“Three times the minister has accused the SPB of corruption. Three times I have responded. Isn’t that Hitler-style persecution?” he asked.
Kuwaza added: “If any act of corruption was committed, I have no concrete evidence sufficient for conviction in a competent court of law. I, therefore, relegate those sorts of comments to political mudslinging and brinkmanship, especially during this election period.”
He described his arrest several times “on trumped up charges” as “clearly amounting to abuse of office”.
On awarding of tenders to line ministries, Kuwaza said: “Should the authorities wish to change policy on the public procurement regime in this country – which is their right and privilege, even without a white paper – this should not be premised on the basis of false accusations casting aspersions on the character of well-meaning professional public servants.”
Biti could not be reached for comment last night.
