HARARE- Parliament’s public accounts committee says car dealers who failed to deliver vehicles to government departments despite taking taxpayer funds will be forced to face MPs through summons after they made excuses when invited to appear.
The Auditor General’s report for 2022 lists several Harare car dealers who failed to supply vehicles to government entities despite being paid in advance.
In 2022, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority suffered a US$1.7 million loss after buying 35 Toyota Hilux double-cab vehicles and 50 Toyota Corollas from Mike Harris which were never delivered.
The Four car dealers named in the Auditor General’s report of 2022, Solution Motors, Duly’s, Mike Harris and Faramatsi were supposed to appear before the committee on Monday but the companies’ representatives did not show up.
Public Accounts Committee chairman Charlton Hwende said the legislators resolved to have the car dealers dragged to appear before them by way of summons.
“We have resolved that we are going to ask the Clerk of Parliament to issue summons in terms of the Standing Orders so that they can be forced to come here and answer,” he said.
One of the companies, Solution Motors, told the committee that it would not appear before it because it had closed shop.
The other dealer, informed the committee administration by telephone that officials would not make it to parliament.
Hwende said it showed that they do not take the committee seriously.
“As you can see, they don’t even take their obligations seriously, they don’t even take parliament seriously. How do you apologise over the phone over a serious matter like this one?
“Solution Motors claim they closed down. I think it’s now the norm that you just get money from the government and don’t supply or close shop.
“Those from Solution Motors who claim to have closed shop must be summoned in their individual capacities.”
He said what was more concerning was that in the latest Auditor General’s report, more suppliers did not fulfil their tender contracts, despite getting payment.
“These cases are increasing,” said the Kuwadzana East MP.
The Auditor General said three buses, 60 vehicles, 167 laptops and various office furniture paid for by the government between 2020 and 2023 had not been delivered by June 2024.