BY MTHANDAZO NYONI THE Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has instituted legal action against Jarzin Auto and Zodsat for failure to deliver supplies after they won tenders, prejudicing the regulator about $5,9 million.
According to TIMB’s 2021 annual report, Jarzin Auto failed to deliver a staff bus, while Zodsat Private Limited failed to supply computers.
“Prepayments include payments made in advance to Jarzin Auto $4 145 615,70 (about US$50 680 by then using official foreign auction rate) dated January 7, 2021, the foreign partner of Solution Motors, for the supply of a staff bus and Zodsat Private Limited $1 768 884 (about US$16 735) dated November 24, 2021 for the supply of computers,” the report states.
“As at December 31, 2021, delivery was outstanding and a legal process to seek recourse had been instituted through the board’s lawyers against Solution Motors and Zodsat.”
Contacted for comment, TIMB public affairs officer Chelesani Moyo said both matters were currently sub judice and the organisation has recovered part of the money.
“TIMB has recovered a portion of the outstanding amounts and is working on full recovery through its attorneys and by engaging other relevant authorities. Kindly take note the amount for Solution Motors is in Zimbabwe dollars and not US dollars,” she said.
Efforts to get a comment from Zodsat and Jarzin were fruitless.
Solutions Motors was blacklisted by the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) in March 2021, as one of the three vehicle dealers that failed to deliver after winning tenders to supply vehicles to government departments and councils.
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The company failed to deliver refuse trucks ordered in 2017 by Karoi Town Council, leading to a protracted legal battle.
Earlier this year Karoi council revealed that it was yet to get a 20-tonne refuse truck it ordered in 2017 through Solution Motors.
Solution Motors also came under the spotlight after prejudicing government of US$207 540 worth of vehicles not delivered by December 2018.
This was picked up by the 2018 Auditor-General’s report, whereby the department of irrigation in the Ministry of Agriculture bought 10 vehicles from Solutions Motors worth US$518 850, but the company failed to deliver.
Zodsat is one of the leading internet service providers in Zimbabwe, providing essential very small aperture terminals and high fibre internet connecting homes, communities, and businesses across the country.
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