THE Minister of Health and Child care Dr Obadiah Moyo has
been released on ZWL$50 000 bail after he appeared before Harare Chief
Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi. Moyo appeared before Harare Chief Magistrate
Munamato Mutevedzi facing three counts of alleged criminal abuse of office.
According to the state, Moyo verbally instructed his
subordinates to award a tender to Drax for the supply medicines despite the
fact the company had failed the due diligence test.
As part of his bail conditions, Moyo was ordered to deposit
50 thousand dollars bail, surrender his passport to the clerk of court, reside
at his given address, not to interfere with the witnesses and surrender title
deeds of the house belonging to his wife.
The minister was arrested yesterday by the Zimbabwe
Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) over his alleged involvement in NatPharm’s
unprocedural contract with Drax International LLC to supply medicines and
surgical sundries.
The state represented by Clemence Chimbare told the court
that there are no reasons for denying Moyo bail.
He spent last night at Rhodesville Police Station in
Harare. His arrest followed the arrest of three NatPharm bosses this week on
charges of criminal abuse of office for approving the deal with Drax, now known
as Drax Consult SAGL after a name change, without following laid down
procurement procedures.
Drax representative Delish Nguwaya has since been charged
in court over the deal, which has already been cancelled on the orders of the
Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
Sources close to investigations said Dr Moyo was invited to
Zacc headquarters on Wednesday to record statements before he was released to
allow investigators to study the documents further, investigations that led to
yesterday’s arrest.
Comm Makamure said ZACC was looking at procurement systems
and procedures of supply of medicines and equipment to fight Covid-19 to
establish compliance with laid down procedures.
“We are looking at the whole procurement system for
Covid-19 to establish systems compliance in handling and managing both
procurements and donations. We have two processes: the investigation arm and
another comprising our officers carrying out a review of the whole procurement
system to ensure compliance. This is being done with a view to making
recommendations on how it can be improved,” said Comm Makamure. zbc
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