A ROW has erupted between Zimbabwe government and the
former late President Robert Mugabe’s family over payment for catering services
that have been provided by Nyaradzo Group, the Zim Morning Post can reveal.
This comes on the backdrop of reports that the Mugabe
family contracted Nyaradzo Group to provide catering services, equipment,
generators, mobile toilets and executive mobile sleepers without government
approval.
For food services alone the bill stood at ZW$2,5 million of
at Sunday. Sources said the Mugabe family engaged Nyaradzo while
government deals with Doves Funeral when it comes to handling heroes’ burials.
“The family wanted Nyaradzo because of the quality of
services yet government says it only has a contract with Doves to provide services
for the Heroes,” the source said.
“Government, through Home affairs, also provides catering
services so it has since said the Mugabe family should settle the Nyaradzo bill
which is likely to run into millions.”
“Since Wednesday, Nyaradzo has been providing meals at the
Blue Roof and for the past five days the bill is at ZW$2,5 million.
“This is likely to go even higher because Mugabe family
says the veteran leader will only be buried after 30 days as they have
requested the construction of a mausoleum at the Heroes Acre.”
“What is disturbing is that the bill has been handed to
Home affairs who in turn say they never contracted Nyaradzo Group,” the source
added.
A top government official told Zim Morning Post that
government is not going to pay for the services rendered by Nyaradzo.
“The choice of service provider was made by the family.
There was no tender. By Sunday night the bill was over ZW$2,5 million,” said a
top Home Affairs ministry official.
“Government preferred various options such as hiring chefs
from Universities and Police to provide catering services.”
A source from Nyaradzo Group said they are not dealing with
government but the Mugabe family.
“We have no deal with government. What is the interest of
the people who are giving you such information. It is in the public domain that
the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) said government will support the bereaved
family so I do not see any problems there,” the source said.
Zim Morning Post understands that Mugabe’s family is
covering catering service costs at the fallen leader’s Zvimba rural home.
The tax payer has been carrying the costs of Mugabe’s
funeral since announcement of his demise on September 6. A Zimbabwean
delegation led by vice president Kembo Mohadi flew to Singapore on a charter
plane before returning with the remains of the man who swept to power after
Zimbabwe’s independence and went on to rule for 37 years until he was ousted in
2017.
The two day sojourn saw the officials pocketing at least US
$ 1, 500 a day in allowances.
The body of the late former president was embalmed in
Singapore before being flown to Harare, although it is unclear who covered
those costs while government insists it covered the hospital costs of Mugabe’s
time at a Singapore hospital before his demise. Zim Morning Post
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