Zimpapers Logo

Felex Share Herald Reporter
State Procurement Board chairperson Mr Charles Kuwaza has been accused of inexplicably hiding five brand new top-of-the range Government vehicles for three years.
The all-terrain vehicles valued at US$210 000 were earmarked for allocation to senior staff at the SPB but are gathering dust at the parking bay of a five-star Harare hotel.

Documents in possession of The Herald show that the five Toyota Hilux double-cab trucks were for four senior procurement executives and the finance, administration and human resources director.

The SPB has paid more than US$15 000 in parking fees to the hotel in the past three years rather than allocate them to earmarked beneficiaries.

The Herald yesterday saw the vehicles, some of which now have thick coats of dust, in the hotel parking bay.
Workers said parking charges for the cars came to US$750 monthly.

Inquiries at the Central Vehicle Registry showed that the vehicles (registration numbers ACU 1890, ACU 1891, ACU 1896, ACR 2208 and ACR 2212) were registered under the State.

The SPB falls under the Office of the President and Cabinet.
Mr Kuwaza requested questions in writing and had not responded at the time of going to print.

The Herald is in possession of a letter Mr Kuwaza wrote to Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Ray Ndhlukula on January 30, 2012 requesting “Cabinet clearance and import duty exemption of duty for conditions of service vehicles for senior staff”.

The vehicles were bought from Toyota Zimbabwe that same year.
“As you are aware, the board has operated for a long time without adequate financial resources,” Mr Kuwaza wrote.

“Senior staff of director level have worked for years and in some cases, without personal issue vehicles. I am therefore seeking permission to purchase these condition of service vehicles from Toyota in terms of Cabinet Circular Number 16 of 2011.”

Mr Kuwaza said each car would cost US$42 045 translating to US$210 225 for the five.
Sources also accused SPB management of financial indiscipline with some workers who were given personal loans of more than US$180 000 four years ago yet to pay back a cent.

This week, The Herald revealed that Mr Kuwaza took home about US$147 000 in house repairs and maintenance allowances last year alone, with his total benefits gobbling nearly US$210 000 before salary. The house and repairs allowance is enough to buy property in medium-density suburbs like Mabelreign and Avondale in Harare.

Since 2009, Mr Kuwaza — by virtue of being executive chairperson of the SPB — was entitled to allowances for domestic workers, house repairs and maintenance, telephones, security, entertainment, electricity and water.

He was also entitled to fumigation, Internet and fuel allowances and board fees. Since the inception of the multi-currency regime in 2009, Mr Kuwaza took home  nearly  US$400 000  in allowances.