This archive report was first published on 20 June 2020.
Published on June 20, 2020, by AFP
Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, has been at the center of a controversy surrounding the awarding of a contract to a new Dubai-based company for coronavirus testing and protective kits.
Health Minister Obadiah Moyo, 66, was arrested on Friday night following investigations by the country's anti-graft commission, which accused him of criminal abuse of office in connection with the multi-million-dollar contract.
According to the commission, Moyo acted contrary to or inconsistent with his fiduciary duty by trying to coerce the treasury to pay for 15,000 coronavirus test kits that were being held at the airport.
Upon inspection, the finance ministry found there were only 3,700 kits by Drax International, a company that had failed to pass minimum government procurement standards.
Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi said, "The accused's actions showed favor to Drax."
The deal was allegedly signed without the legal consent of Zimbabwe's procurement registration authority.
Authorities in Hungary flagged a suspicious $2 million deposit into Drax Consult SAGL's accounts in March, drawing anger from the opposition Zimbabwe party Movement for Democratic Change.
