WMMI fails to deliver 30 ambulances

ambulances bought last year after the Ministry ofFinance deposited US$2 million into Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries’ account without consulting it, legislators heard yesterday.
The ambulances were supposed to be delivered last year and distributed countrywide.
Appearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Welfare yesterday, the ministry’s director of finance Mr Leonard Mabandi said the Ministry of Finance deposited money directly into WMMI’s account.
Legislators say the actions by Minister Tendai Biti’s ministry were not transparent and encouraged “corruption.”
The committee is chaired by Murehwa North MP Dr David Parirenyatwa (Zanu-PF).
Said Mr Mabandi: “Last year we were allocated about US$2,6 million for vehicles of which about US$1,9 million was paid for 50 ambulances. Only 20 have been delivered so far.
“There was a discussion between the Ministry of Finance and WMMI and the Finance Ministry paid directly to WMMI.  “Our understanding is that the arrangement was made for two reasons, partly to rescue WMMI and at the same time sourcing resources for the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare.”
However, the resources are yet to be delivered.
Mr Mabandi said WMMI argued that the delay was caused by challenges faced in importing the vehicles and changing them into ambulances.
“They had promised to deliver the ambulances before the end of December last year, then they said February and it has continued up to now.
“The 20 vehicles actually did not come at once but in trenches of five. At some point we were told the vehicles were there and when we went to inquire about our vehicles the Ministry of Finance told us to wait. We then heard that the vehicles had been taken by other ministries,” he said.
Mr Mabandi said they had, however, been told that the vehicles had since been imported and now awaited fittings to make them ambulances.
Zvishavane legislator Cde Obert Matshalaga said it was not proper for the Ministry of Finance to use money allocated to another ministry.
“The Clerk of Parliament (Mr Austin Zvoma) and the MPs have the same problem with the Ministry of Finance breaking the rules of transparency by pushing money straight to WMMI.
“It is irregular because that expenditure should have been done through the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare,” he said.
Finance Minister Tendai Biti was at loggerheads with legislators in 2009 when he instructed all of them to buy vehicles from WMMI.
He argued that the objective was to resuscitate the local motor industry. However, some MPs refused and bought vehicles from dealers of their choice.
Mr Mabandi said the ministry had been allocated US$3,2 million in the 2011 national budget.
“From that allocation, we intend to use US$3 million to buy 65 ambulances and the other US$200 000 for service vehicles.
“The 65 vehicles will be coming through CMED,” he said.
However, the MPs objected saying CMED was not different from WMMI.
“In the Comptroller and Auditor-General’s report, CMED actually indicated that procurement is their challenge. How then are you going to get the vehicles,” queried Cde Matshalaga.

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