News / Local
Dr Parirenyatwa cancels Mpilo briefing
04 Apr 2015 at 07:45hrs | Views
Health Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa yesterday cancelled a Press conference where he was scheduled to brief journalists about action his ministry is taking following corruption allegations against senior managers at Mpilo Central Hospital.
The hospital's board chairperson, Sichelesile Moyo Ncube, told journalists Dr Parirenyatwa was engaged elsewhere.
"We were scheduled to have a meeting sometime this morning with the honourable Minister. He will advise us of another date. These things happen, ministers get assigned here and there anytime," said Moyo Ncube.
In February, the board ordered a forensic audit into tender procedures.
The institution's director of operations, Duduza Regina Moyo wrote a letter to the chief executive officer, Dr Lawrence Mantiziba, alleging a businessman, Ashton Mpofu, had threatened to shoot her following the cancellation of a $3 million contract to refurbish the radiotherapy centre.
Mpofu refuted the allegation, saying the tender was unproceduraly cancelled because he had refused to bribe Moyo and Mantiziba.
The audit unearthed irregularities which are said to have prejudiced the hospital of millions of dollars.
The board, on March 3, recommended to Dr Parirenyatwa that Dr Mantiziba, Moyo and finance director Charles Govo be suspended to pave way for a wider investigation.
According to the report by a local firm PNA Chartered Accountants, Dr Mantiziba failed to put in place a system of checks and balances into awarding of tenders.
This left the system open to abuse and led to the hospital being prejudiced of millions of dollars.
The auditors recommended that he be charged with gross negligence.
After scrutinising 838 tenders worth about $4,6 million that were awarded between January 2012 and December 31, 2014, the investigating team found that 444 with a value of about $2,8 million flouted provisions of the Procurement Act.
Moyo allegedly manipulated the Procurement and Tender Committee (PTC) to determine the outcome of tenders.
The report shows she tempered with files to withhold evidence from the investigating team.
Moyo allegedly undermined government policies and regulations of the State Procurement Board.
She is also guilty of "drafting letters on behalf of suppliers claiming money from the hospital, deliberately awarding multiple tenders to individuals.
The auditors recommended that Moyo be reported to the police for Fraud.
The report shows Govo was grossly negligent as he would pay money to suppliers without tax clearances.
For authorising payments to companies without withholding tax, the auditors recommended that he be reported to the police for tax fraud.
The hospital's board chairperson, Sichelesile Moyo Ncube, told journalists Dr Parirenyatwa was engaged elsewhere.
"We were scheduled to have a meeting sometime this morning with the honourable Minister. He will advise us of another date. These things happen, ministers get assigned here and there anytime," said Moyo Ncube.
In February, the board ordered a forensic audit into tender procedures.
The institution's director of operations, Duduza Regina Moyo wrote a letter to the chief executive officer, Dr Lawrence Mantiziba, alleging a businessman, Ashton Mpofu, had threatened to shoot her following the cancellation of a $3 million contract to refurbish the radiotherapy centre.
Mpofu refuted the allegation, saying the tender was unproceduraly cancelled because he had refused to bribe Moyo and Mantiziba.
The audit unearthed irregularities which are said to have prejudiced the hospital of millions of dollars.
The board, on March 3, recommended to Dr Parirenyatwa that Dr Mantiziba, Moyo and finance director Charles Govo be suspended to pave way for a wider investigation.
According to the report by a local firm PNA Chartered Accountants, Dr Mantiziba failed to put in place a system of checks and balances into awarding of tenders.
This left the system open to abuse and led to the hospital being prejudiced of millions of dollars.
The auditors recommended that he be charged with gross negligence.
After scrutinising 838 tenders worth about $4,6 million that were awarded between January 2012 and December 31, 2014, the investigating team found that 444 with a value of about $2,8 million flouted provisions of the Procurement Act.
Moyo allegedly manipulated the Procurement and Tender Committee (PTC) to determine the outcome of tenders.
The report shows she tempered with files to withhold evidence from the investigating team.
Moyo allegedly undermined government policies and regulations of the State Procurement Board.
She is also guilty of "drafting letters on behalf of suppliers claiming money from the hospital, deliberately awarding multiple tenders to individuals.
The auditors recommended that Moyo be reported to the police for Fraud.
The report shows Govo was grossly negligent as he would pay money to suppliers without tax clearances.
For authorising payments to companies without withholding tax, the auditors recommended that he be reported to the police for tax fraud.
Source - chronicle
