Clerk of Parliament’s trial for High Court

Zvikomborero Parafini

There was a false start to the long-anticipated trial of the Clerk of Parliament, Kennedy Chokuda, who is facing two counts of criminal abuse of duty involving the overpriced laptops which torched an outcry in 2022.

The State made a U-turn and indicated that they intended to have him indicted and tried at the High Court.

Chokuda and his alleged accomplice, director of procurement Stanley Bhebhe will now return to court on Thursday for indictment.

The brief allegations are that in 2022, the Parliament of Zimbabwe flighted an advert inviting bidders for the supply and delivery of 173 laptops and 79 desktops.

In response, 92 companies showed interest before they were later reduced to 30 after some were disqualified for different reasons.

On August 29, Mid-End Computers was notified by the Parliament of Zimbabwe that it had been awarded the contract for the supply and delivery of 79 desktops at US$ 3,076 each with a total value of USD$243,052 payable at the interbank rate.

Treasury, however, refused to release the payment citing high prices.

The price caused an outcry from legislators and members of the public after the invoice leaked.

It is alleged that on September 16, Stanley Bhebhe originated a letter on the instructions of Chokuda to the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) asking for authority to negotiate a price reduction.

Bhebhe in turn instructed Rudo Doka the Director of External Relations to append her signature on Chokuda’s behalf as he was away.

However, Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) replied and advised Parliament that negotiating price reduction was contrary to section 52 of the Procurement Act, which prohibits negotiations between procuring entities and bidders.

The State alleged that the two asked for authority from PRAZ although they had already negotiated for a price reduction with Noah Sakudye the Director of Mid-End Computers on September 7.

An agreement was reached and the price was reduced from US$243 000 to US$ 180,000 for the supply and delivery of 79 desktops.

The meeting was chaired by the Chief Director Finance Bernard Zvamada.

The State further alleged that they submitted an unsigned Standard Bidding Document which would ordinarily be signed by Chokuda the accounting officer.

According to the State, Chokuda should have cancelled the tender and re-tendered it.

On the second count, the duo unlawfully negotiated a tender that was issued to Blinart Investments.

They allegedly negotiated with Elizabeth Muchenje the Director of Blinart Investments Pvt Ltd September 9 and an agreement was reached on the same day.

The price was reduced from US$ 9,264 to US$ 7,985 per laptop.