The Ministry of Heath in Zimbabwe has directed NatPham, a public pharmaceutical company to cancel all contracts with President Mnangagwa’s son Collins linked company Drax Consult also known as Drax International. The dodgy company was involved in the supply of medicine and personal protective equipment to the Ministry of Health.
In a letter addressed to Natpham Managing Director Ms Flora Nancy Sifeku, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Dr Gibson Mhlanga directed the pharmaceutical company to cancel all Drax Consult contract and to make sure its done by the 12th of June.
“You are being directed to cancel all contracts you had with Drax SAGL with immediate effect. Please be advised this process should be completed by the 12th of June 2020 and documentation with the effect of the same to be submitted in my office by then. Please treat this issue matter with the urgency it requires,” read part of the letter.
The Drax company stirred controversy and outcry when documents leaked that it was supplying the government with face masks at USD 28 each when the average price of the mask is less that a dollar. The company had been awarded a contract to the tune of USD 60 million.
The Zanu PF party blamed inflation as the reasons why a mask can be sold at USD 28. The spokesperson of the party Patrick Chinamasa threatened private media and journalists with unspecified action for criticising the Mnangagwa family over covid scams which came to be known as the Covidgate.
Read More: Zimbabwe army denies Harvest House takeover deployment
There has also been a concern over the increase in briefcase companies tendering for the supply of Covid-19 equipment and supplies. Vice President kembo Mohadi reportedly wrote to the relevant ministries to be watchful.
Read More: Wicknell Chivayo to be arrested again as Supreme Court reverses High Court acquittal