Lawmakers want suppliers blacklisted for unfulfilled government tenders

BY NEW ZIANA 

HARARE – Legislators have recommended the blacklisting of suppliers who fail to deliver goods and services after winning government tenders, and getting advance payment.

This comes as the latest Auditor General’s report revealed that a total of three buses, 60 motor vehicles, 167 laptops and various office furniture paid for between 2020 and 2023 had not been delivered by June this year despite advance payment of ZWL$1,7 billion and US$2,3 million made in procurement of the goods.

In 2022, for instance, ZIMRA suffered a US$1,7 million loss after buying 35 Toyota Hilux double-cab cars and 50 Toyota Corolla vehicles from Mike Harris which were never delivered.

While payment was made on February 24, 2022, only 15 Toyota Hilux vehicles were delivered and none of the Toyota Corolla vehicles had been received as of December 2022. 

The supplier, Mike Harris recently told the Public Accounts Committee that delays in getting foreign currency allocations, and fluctuations in the exchange rate led to its failure to deliver all the vehicles.

During the Wednesday Question and Answer session in the National Assembly, Rushinga member of Parliament Tendai Nyabani wanted to know if there was a government policy to deal with companies that are contracted by the Government and are given money but fail to deliver.

Nyabani also asked if it was not possible for a contracted company to pay a guarantee fee to the Government so that if it fails to deliver to the expected level, the Government will get a refund. 

Budiriro South MP, Darlington Chigumbu said there should be a policy to make sure that those who would have failed to fulfill supply contracts are blacklisted.

Responding to the questions from legislators, acting leader of government business in Parliament, Prof Amon Murwira said it was government policy to safeguard public funds. 

“The Government is there to oversee that public funds are ring-fenced.

“Everyone who is contracted by the Government to work, signs a contract so that they provide services. When we are talking about laws, that is what happens but it does not mean that everyone who signs a contract is able to finish.

“If they are unable to complete the work, there are also laws that also bind them. I am saying that there is a law for doing work and a law for reprimanding,” he said.