Snow graders multi-functional: Zinara

By The NewsDay | Mar. 27, 2015 | 2 Min read

Zinara this week defended its purchase of 40 snow plough graders between 2013 and 2014 arguing that the machinery was equipped with a dozer plate capable of doing many things.

by VENERANDA LANGA

Acting chief executive officer Engineer Moses Juma told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development during a tour of Zinara offices on Monday the snow plough graders can push and clear bushy areas as well as operate as dozers.

“It is not a snow plough, it is a dozer plate which is able to push material, and so this particular grader is able to do dozing of material and also clear and push bushes, and we feel it is adding value to our equipment,” he said.

Juma had been grilled by committee member Spiwe Muchaneta Muchenje on the purchase of snow graders in a country which does not experience snowy conditions.

In 2014, Juma was grilled by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts chaired by Mufakose MP Paurina Mpariwa which felt that the tenders for the 80 graders were overpriced.

Juma had appeared before the committee together with Transport and Infrastructural Development Ministry secretary Munesu Munodawafa. Legislators questioned why Zinara settled for a company which charged $200 000 per grader when other bidders charged $130 000 per unit.

The committee felt Zinara could have saved as much as $70 000 per grader.

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In an interview after the tour, chairman of the committee Dextor Nduna said he also supported the snow ploughs, adding more should be procured.

“From an engineer’s point of view I think we got two graders for the price of one because those graders with snow ploughs have a blade in front that can be utilised as a dozer. We have a grader that has two functions and so the issue of being overcharged for the graders is misplaced. All I can advocate for is the right utilisation of those graders,” he said.