SEVEN National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) bosses
have been fired as the company reels from allegations of multi-million dollar
corruption involving the acquisition of medicines and equipment meant for the
Covid-19 pandemic response.
Those who have been fired are managing director Flora
Sifeku, operations manager Charles Mwaramba, finance manager Rolland Mlalazi,
human resources manager Walter Nhau, regional manager Raguel Mthombeni, stores
pharmacist Rumbidzai Kanhema (Matambanadzo) and Bridget Kumapenda.
NatPharm is mandated with the procurement, storage and
distribution of medicines and medical equipment for public health institutions.
Some of the managers were implicated in the Drax
International LLC US$60 million Covid-19 medicines supply scandal.
They were arrested and face charges of criminal abuse of
office.
Sifeku, Mwaramba and Mlalazi were arrested early this month
and are being accused of processing government procurement without following
proper tender procedures.
In a July 14 internal email with the subject head
“Termination of contracts for some managers”, acting managing director Zealous
Nyabadza said the seven have been dismissed from their posts with immediate
effect. This email serves to inform you that the following managers have been
dismissed from NatPharm with immediate effect,” Nyabadza said, without
elaborating.
An unprecedented purge has already seen several Ministry of
Health officials and chief executive officers of major referral hospitals being
fired.
Yesterday, several senior managers at the Health Services
Board were also either relieved of their duties or transferred.
“This is part of the large-scale purging of those perceived
to be involved in the controversial cases surrounding the procurement of
medical supplies and Covid-19 equipment. In fact, more of these senior people
are going to fall by the wayside going forward,” an official said.
First to fall was former Health minister Obadiah Moyo, who
was fired on July 8 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for what he deemed
behaviour inconsistent with a member of cabinet.
Moyo was arrested last month after an investigation by the
Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. He was freed on bail and returns to court
on July 31.
Moyo is facing charges of corruption and criminal abuse of
office over his role in a deal with Drax to supply personal protective
equipment and Covid-19 test kits. If convicted, he faces a fine or up to 15
years in prison.
A representative of Drax, Delish Nguwaya, was also arrested
and is facing charges in connection with the contract.
Nguwaya is also on bail. His company has, however, denied
wrongdoing and has written to the government protesting the cancellation of the
procurement deal.
Apart from the Drax controversy, the Ministry of Health has
also been accused of mishandling the procurement of Covid-19 materials through
a Namibian-based company, Jaji Investments.
Both deals were concluded without the approval of the
Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe. The Drax deal was cancelled after
journalists exposed the transaction, sparking public outrage.
The Health Service Board last week fired chief executive
officers of central hospitals, while directors in the Ministry of Health were
sent on forced leave as part of what was termed a restructuring exercise.
Those fired are Ernest Manyawu (Parirenyatwa Group of
Hospitals), Tinashe Dhobbie (Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, formerly Harare
Central Hospital), Enock Mayida (Chitungwiza Central Hospital), Nonhlanhla
Ndlovu (United Bulawayo Hospitals) and Leonard Mabhandi (Ingutsheni Hospital).
Zimbabwe Independent
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