Nhema Named in Parks Vehicle Scandal
Source: Financial Gazette
Date: 2 August 2007
Author: Shame Makoshori
Environment and Tourism Minister, Francis Nhema, could have exerted his influence to arm twist the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (PWMA) into spending US$44 000 on the importation of a Prado VX model for his personal use, The Financial Gazette can reveal. The luxury 4x4 will ultimately cost the authority about US$96 000 after factoring in 105 percent import duty, but this excludes shipping costs.
The Financial Gazette has obtained documents revealing how senior government officials, including Nhema and Margaret Sangarwe, the permanent secretary in the ministry could have made misrepresentations to Cabinet, allowing them to use the PWMA to acquire luxury vehicles for themselves. A June 29 letter, reference number D/C/18/4, signed by a security officer only identified as S Murombedzi, indicates that Nhema's ministry sought and was granted Cabinet approval to purchase the vehicle by claiming that "an incoming director" at the parks authority was to use it.
"The vehicles will be used by the Director General (of the PWMA, Morris Mtsambiwa) and one of the incoming directors (respectively) in executing their duties, which include among other things, accessing the authority's terrain, which is predominantly rugged," Murombedzi's letter says. "I have attached earlier correspondences highlighting why the Ministry (of Tourism) has seen it acceptable for the department to buy the Prado VX for the Hon Minister," Murombedzi said. Under the arrangement, Mtsambiwa was granted authority to import a Mercedes Benz ML 320.
Nhema yesterday described the information as "nonsense" orchestrated by "someone trying to be creative." "What normally happens is that if there is a request from a parastatal to import something, and if the Central Mechanical Department does not have the foreign currency, the (line) ministry can seek Cabinet approval," he said. PWMA public relations manager Edward Mbewe said the authority does not buy vehicles for ministers. "We buy Prados for our own directors, not for the minister," Mbewe said.
When reminded that documents showed that the vehicle in question was purchased specifically for the minister, Mbewe replied: "It could be something that I am not aware of, but as I said, we only buy Prados for our directors. I will have to find out." But earlier correspondence within Nhema's Ministry indicates that a decision had already been reached between top officials to get Cabinet approval through the submission of inaccurate information to the Ministry of Transport and Communications, which is in charge of all state vehicle procurement. A letter written by Mtsambiwa to Sangarwe asking her to secure Cabinet approval for the importation of the Prado, included notes-scribbled in long hand at the bottom: "I suggest Parks should just buy it (the Prado) as one of its vehicles rather than a ministerial vehicle, as this may raise eyebrows, 'Honourable Minister your guidance please'.... 'Agreed'.... 'Parks should apply for the Cabinet."
It is not clear, however, who added the hand-written notes to the letter. However, documents at hand indicate that after this plan had been hatched, on June 29, Nhema's ministry instructed Mtsambiwa to import the Prado VX. A June 22 letter from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, reference number 19/14/36, refers to the Prado as a "vehicle for the PWMA", suggesting the ploy to hoodwink Cabinet had worked. "Authority is granted for the PWMA to buy a Mercedes Benz ML 320 for the director general and a Prado for one of the incoming directors," wrote the Ministry of Transport.
Nhema, who is not entitled to a PWMA vehicle, already drives a government issued Mercedes Benz and an Isuzu 4X4 purchased under a Parliament facility. Relevant Links Southern Africa Zimbabwe But sources report he had already obtained another Prado, registration number AAR 3111, from the PWMA for personal use. It also emerged this week that the controversial importation of Nhema's latest luxury vehicle points to a broader scam, where the PWMA could have been prejudiced of billions in procurement, and in fuel and service costs for its vehicles that have been looted for personal use by senior government officials. Details indicate a plunder of PWMA resources by influential officials taking turns to order the slaughter of game, commandeering vehicles, and ordering the purchase of personal cellphones by the authority.
n 2004, deputy Environment Minister Andrew Langa grabbed a Nissan Hardbody, registration number GNP 587, for use at his Matabeleland farm. The vehicle was only returned in 2006 after developing technical problems, after which the official, whose identity is known to The Financial Gazette, demanded a Mazda B1800, registration number GNP 662.
In December 2004, Sangarwe seized an Isuzu 3L, registration number 829 521S for personal use. She confirmed yesterday that she was using a PWMA vehicle at her farm because she did not have a suitable car to use. She did not however, say government had a mandate to buy her a vehicle for her personal businesses. "I have a 607, which I cannot use at the farm so I have borrowed a car from Parks to use," Sangarwe said. "The deputy (Langa) has the same problem, he has said his Prado is not suitable for the terrain in rural constituencies and for elections so he has also borrowed another car from Parks.
But that is not an anomaly because all permanent secretaries are doing it." "They all enjoy free maintenance and fuel costs," a source said. The Financial Gazette is reliably informed that the Isuzu is serviced by PWMA, at a cost of $36 million after covering every 10 000 kilometres, or after two months.
Sources say Sangarwe has also instructed the PWMA to purchase a Nokia N70 phone for $398 million and "promised to refund the authority later." She confirmed the transaction yesterday but said the phone was not yet delivered. Turning to Nhema's car, Sangarwe said she has a circular dating a few years back to buy 4X4s for ministers to use in constituencies but with only a budget of $300 000 the ministry failed. They then approached PWMA "because they have the foreign currency, but it is on loan." "But yes, he is entitled (to a PWMA car)," she said.
On Monday last week one of the government officials, who also enjoys substantial government allowances such as a top of the range vehicle, phones and fuel, commandeered a Nissan, registration number 829 499D, from the PWMA fleet for a foreign trip, receiving 100 litres worth of fuel coupons at the expense of PWMA. "There is a serious shortage of cars at PWMA, but the Ministry took two blue Peugeot 405s, registrations numbers GNP 591 and GNP 594, for its top officials," a source said.
One of the cars has since been damaged in an accident. Official records obtained in the course of investigating this story indicate that the PWMA recently decided to beef up its depleted fleet. Twenty percent of the budget has been allocated towards the purchase of "managers' cars", the records show. Twenty-four Land Cruisers have been imported for operations and six Nissan Sunny 2.7D twin cabs have been procured for management. But the bulk of them are yet to be delivered. But it is feared that the bulk of the budget for "managers' cars" could go towards the importation of luxury vehicles for top government and PWMA figures.
Although documents at hand show that Mtsambiwa, the director general, was granted permission to import a new Mercedes Benz ML 320, he already had another Mercedes at his disposal. Relevant Links Southern Africa Zimbabwe An official at the ministry only identified as Mudzamiri questioned on May 28 the logic behind the acquisition of the new Benz, the documents reveal. "What has happened to the current Mercedes, which the DG (director general) has?" his footnotes on the May 8 letter, reference number A/1/164 reads. The PWMA is one of the biggest foreign currency earners among government departments, making it a magnet for corruption.