Hospital staff in trouble over procurements

Maphosa is the acting Health Services Administrator at Gwanda Provincial Hospital and is also the Procurement and Tender Committee chairperson.
Kutsirayi is an accountant at the institution and also a member of the Procurement and Tender Committee while Banda is the accounting assistant at the hospital and also a member of that committee.
The three pleaded not guilty and were remanded out of custody. Bail was not opposed.
They will make a second appearance at the Gwanda Magistrate Court on 12 November where they would be given a trial date.
Sometime in 2010, the Ministry of Finance availed a total of $1,8million to the hospital under the Targeted Approach Programme with a view to facelift the institution in its quest to revive health delivery system.
The State alleges that the three accused persons unlawfully presided over tenders worth more than  $50 000 for the purchase of medical equipment and drugs.
According to tender procedures, the accused persons can only preside over tenders worth less than $50 000.
Anything more than $50 000 should be referred to the State Procurement Board.
However, the State alleges that, after presiding over and awarding formal tenders, the three accused persons proceeded to raise requisitions for payment to private companies.
It is alleged that the accused persons processed the payments for the supplies well knowing that the purchases were unlawful, as they were required to be referred to the State Procurement Board as outlined in the Procurement (Amendment) Regulations 2002 as read with Statutory Instrument 161/2008.
The three are alleged to have purchased medical equipment and drugs from private companies instead of the National Pharmaceutical Company of Zimbabwe (NatPharm), which is the procuring entity for all Government health institutions.
Only NatPharm can authorise the purchase of drugs from private companies if it has no supplies in stock.
However, it is alleged that the three accused persons went on to purchase drugs and equipment from private companies without the knowledge of NatPharm and when it had in stock most of the supplies.
The three are said to have deprived Government of large sums of money as prices charged by their alleged favoured private companies were abnormal while NatPharm charges were reasonable.
For example, it is alleged that a drug, Nefidipine 10mg costs $3,70 per box at NatPharm while the same drug costed $30,50 at a private company.
The State was represented by Mr Edward Ndlovu.