HARARE - Two companies that were regular service providers to Zimbabwe Prison Correctional Services (ZPCS) reportedly bribed an officer to inflate the price of goods.
Lucia Muramba, 25, a director of Serbs Enterprises, a regular supplier of goods and services to ZPCS, and Edson Bhurisa, 23, a director of Sospark Trading, appeared before Harare magistrate Tendai Mahwe charged with bribery.
Muramba and Bhurisa were both remanded to February 20 on $100 bail.
As part of their bail conditions, they were ordered to reside at their given addresses, surrender passports and report at CID Frauds every Friday, until the matter is finalised.
Prosecutor Farai Gatsi alleged that sometime in June last year, Muramba approached ZPCS Matabeleland Region Procurement Department and influenced one of the officers, Mehluli Dube, to unlawfully award tenders to Serbs Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd, to supply any orders available for a consideration in cash.
Dube offered to facilitate the transactions and made arrangements with Muramba to deposit his share of the money into his ZB account.
On July 17, Dube effected the unlawful awarding of a tender to Serbs Enterprises worth $9 987,50.
In return, Muramba made a $1 500 deposit into Dube’s personal bank account.
According to an audit inspection, ZPCS lost about $1,8 million through the scam because the suppliers were inflating the prices of goods supplied.
Gatsi further alleged that sometime in May last year, Bhurisa also approached ZPCS Matabeleland Region Procurement Department and influenced Dube to award tenders to his company to supply available orders in return for cash.
Dube facilitated the transaction and caused the unlawful awarding of a tender worth $9 961 to Bhurisa’s company.
In return, Dube was given $510 before the offence was unearthed during an audit inspection carried out at ZPCS.