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The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) says it has arrested the Clerk of Parliament, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Kennedy_Chokuda">Kennedy Mugove Chokuda</a>, for approving a US$9K per laptop tender.
The tender was awarded to Blinart Investments but was eventually cancelled following public outrage. 
ZACC says Chokuda’s actions constituted Criminal Abuse of Duty as a Public Officer. 
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development issued statements to the effect that it had <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/treasury-cancels-tender-authorised-by-parliament-directs-that-suppliers-be-blacklisted/">cancelled two tenders to supply laptops and desktops</a> arguing that the suppliers had overpriced the commodities.
Blinart Investments which had been awarded the tender to supply laptops was selling each laptop at USD9 264.49  and the government would have paid US$1 602 755.77 for 173 laptops.
The other company, Mid-End Computers and Hardware (P/L), demanded US$243 052.36 for 79 desktops as each was priced at USD3 076.61.
Members of the public criticised Parliament for awarding the tender saying this was grand corruption.
It also emerged that some companies, Lacheln for instance, submitted bids for the Laptop tender at Parliament for as low as $213 655 but Parliament opted for Blinart which had tendered for $1.6 million. 
Blinart’s managing director, Elizabeth Muchenje, has since appeared before Parliament to explain how the company levied US$9 264.49  per laptop to the Parliament of Zimbabwe.
Addressing the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) committee, Muchenje said the laptop prices reached a price of US$9 264.49 each because they were high-end laptops with seven other accessories per laptop.
Muchenje said there was the HP Spectra 32GB laptop, Laptop Stand, Laptop Backup, HDMI Adapter, USB Adapter, Wireless Mouse HP, Laptop pouch, and Microsoft Professional Office 2019.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Pindula News

US$9k Per Laptop Tender: Kennedy Chokuda Arrested

Blinart Investments managing director, Elizabeth Muchenje, defended the US$9 200 per laptop price which the company had levied the Parliament of Zimbabwe in a tender that was eventually cancelled.
Addressing the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) committee on how laptop prices reached a price of US$9000 each, Muchenje said:
<blockquote>
It was a high-end laptop with seven other accessories with it.
</blockquote>
Muchenje said the laptop was priced at US$9 264.49, payable in RTGS – the local currency – at the prevailing bank rate. She further gave a breakdown of the costs of the laptop. 
There was the HP Spectra 32GB laptop, Laptop Stand, Laptop Backup, HDMI Adapter, USB Adapter, Wireless Mouse HP, Laptop pouch, and Microsoft Professional Office 2019.
The cost amounted to US$5 176.36 for the laptop and all the accessories. 
<blockquote>
The company factored in ZIMRA Tax (14.5%) and courier charges, hotel and tickets, US$6026.12.
Markup (35%) US$2109.14 per laptop. 
The Grand total rose to US$9 314.87.
</blockquote>
NB: laptops don’t pay customs duties, but they pay Value Added Tax (VAT) of 14.5%.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development issued statements to the effect that it had <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/treasury-cancels-tender-authorised-by-parliament-directs-that-suppliers-be-blacklisted/">cancelled two tenders to supply laptops and desktops</a> arguing that the suppliers had overpriced the commodities.
Blinart Investments which had been awarded the tender to supply laptops was selling each laptop at USD9 264.49  and the government would have paid US$1 602 755.77 for 173 laptops.
The other company, Mid-End Computers and Hardware (P/L), demanded US$243 052.36 for 79 desktops as each was priced at USD3 076.61.
Members of the public criticised Parliament for awarding the tender saying this was grand corruption. 
It also emerged that some companies, Lacheln for instance, submitted bids for the Laptop tender at Parliament for as low as $213 655 but Parliament opted for Blinart which had tendered for $1.6 million. 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/list-of-companies-that-submitted-bids-for-laptops-tender-awarded-to-blinart-at-us9k-each/">List Of Companies That Submitted Bids For Laptops Tender Awarded To Blinart At US$9K Each</a></li>
</ul>
Previously,<a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/09/19/us9k-per-laptop-tender-in-a-normal-economy-usd4590-46-shouldve-been-the-final-price/"> Pindula News published a Twitter thread by Michael Rushizha @mrushizha</a> who believes that Blinart Investments’ price was justified. This reporter believes it is important to reproduce the post for some context. See below:
<blockquote>
It is important to understand that this is not just any laptop. This is a high-end laptop with a touch-screen, some fancy software and accessories. These laptops don’t come cheap. We need to break down the requirement into smaller components for everyone’s comprehension.
According to pages 16 and 17 of the tender document, Parliament of Zimbabwe ordered 173x 13.3 or 14-inch laptops consisting of the following: 1x Microsoft Office 2019 Professional 1x Sophos Antivirus 1x HP Wireless Mouses 1x HP Laptop Stands 1x HP Laptop Carry Cases.
Now we need to cost each item. For the 13.3 or 14-inch laptop, I’m going to use a ‘cheaper’ HP EliteBook 840 G8 for this example. This baby costs a cool USD 2,259.00 with a storage of 512 GB. We need the storage to be 1.0 TB, so we add USD 80.00 to get USD 2,339.00.
Next, we need to factor in the cost of Microsoft Office Professional. The current version is 2021 and it goes for USD 439.99 bringing our running total to USD 2,778.99.
We also need a Sophos Antivirus license, which is actually an annual subscription. This license costs USD 28.00 per user, or per laptop. This brings our running total to USD 2,806.99.
Next, is the Wireless Mouses going for USD 16.99 each. This brings our running total to USD 2,823.98
The HP laptop stands are next for USD 49.95 each. This brings our running total to USD 2,869.93.
Last but not least, the HP laptop carry cases go for USD 36.99 each. This brings our running total to USD 2,906.92
Now the business dynamics. These computers are not manufactured in Zimbabwe or Africa. The prices are from HP, so I’m going to use a 3% shipping fee to one of the South African distributors which suppliers in Zimbabwe deal with, bringing our running cost per laptop to USD 2,994.13.
Next, we need to add another 3% shipping fee from South Africa to Harare, Zimbabwe. This brings our running cost per laptop to USD 3,083.95.
Our laptops are now in Zimbabwe, and fortunately, laptops don’t pay customs duties, but they pay VAT of 14.5% and this adds a further USD 447.17 to our laptop bringing the running cost per laptop to USD 3,531.12
After the taxman’s lion’s share, the retailer adds a markup for their trouble ranging between 20% – 30% depending on the risk. For this example, we will go high-end and apply a 30% markup to come to USD 4,590.46.
In a normal economy, USD 4,590.46 should have been the final price for each of these laptops. Sadly, Zimbabwe’s economy is anything but normal. This is where it all starts to become interesting.
You see, @ReserveBankZIM and local banks haven’t been issuing foreign currency to non-priority sectors for some time now. This led to people using alternative means to acquire this resource. At the time this tender close, parallel market rates were at a record USD 1: ZWL 800.
Page 10 of the tender states that, bids should be priced in ZW$ and foreign currency equivalent at the prevailing market rate. And that payment will be done in ZW$ converted at the ruling rate on the agreed delivery timelines as stated in the contract.
To cater for losses presented by the disparity between the ZW$ parallel market rate and US$ interbank rate, for which payment was going to be made at the date of payment, one needs to multiply the final US$ value of the laptops with the parallel rate of 800 to get the ZW$ value and divide by the interbank rate of July 15th 2022, which was 396.8940 In the end, the final ZW$ value of each laptop will be ZWL 3,672,368.00 and the US$ value will be USD 9,252.77 which is very close to the much-disputed USD 9,264.48 you see today.
Whether we like it or not, Blinart may NOT be the villain here. I would like to think that @ParliamentZim did their adjudication processes and found everything above board. It’s possible that they may have been bidders with lower prices, but got disqualified for non-compliance.
Tenders of such value usually go through the Special Oversight Committee (SPOC) to which every bidder MUST pay a SPOC Administration Fee of typically ZWL 15,000.00, in which in this case, no such payment was asked of the bidders, and I don’t think it went through SPOC.
In conclusion, the noise made since yesterday was caused by government officials that are not actually in touch with the realities of the country that claim to serve.
@ParliamentZim made the mistake of reacting by cancelling the tender which it professed had gone through internal processes and SPOC. They should have defended their internal adjudication processes and shed light on how the decision was reached with the backing of the SPOC.
</blockquote>
<h2>More Pindula News</h2>

Blinart Investments Defends US$9 000 Per Laptop Price

The Parliament of Zimbabwe was put on the spotlight recently when a computer tender was awarded to a company that was supplying the gadets at USD9 264.48 each, a price <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/treasury-cancels-tender-authorised-by-parliament-directs-that-suppliers-be-blacklisted/">viewed by Treasury as very high</a>. 
While <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/09/26/chokuda-cancels-us9k-laptop-tender-says-its-not-morally-justifiable-to-buy-at-tendered-price/">the tenders were cancelled, suppliers blacklisted</a>, talk on the deal has not yet subsided. 
It has emerged that some companies, Lacheln for instance, submitted bids for the Laptop tender at Parliament for as low as $213 655 but Parliament opted for Blinart which had tendered for $1.6 million. Pindula News presents below a list of companies that submitted bids and the prices they were charging:
<blockquote>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.79">Bidder</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=95.66">Amount $</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.79">LAPTOP</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.74">DESKTOP</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.86">Omni Africa</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=97.45">$1 991 117.79(USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=88.13">$ 697 381.75(USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.72">Kemek Technologies</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=97.59">$998 071 .60(USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=74.33">$ 191 424 90(USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.83">AT Telecoms</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.36">$ 673 172.06 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.92">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.87">Century Technology</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.31">$ 1 043 903.99(USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=72.95">$317039.35(USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.95">Happy year Tech</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=97.98">$ 991 217.34 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.87">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.8">Axis Solutions</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=96.55">$ 363 762 50 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=94.75">$ 982 008.98 (USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=96.02">Lacheln</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.63">$213 655(USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=91.62">$87 295 (USD</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.5">TrickMut Computers</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.25">$583 245. 28(USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=97.43">$ 234 054.09 (USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.94">Global Horizon</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=86.96">$ 664 1320.00 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=96.61">$ 171 825.00(USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.95">Ashert</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.92">$ 448 480.01 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.65">$ 109 659. 90 (USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91">Frologate Technology</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=97.75">$ 593 822. 50 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=85.1">$ 306 032 .18 (USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.56">Mid-End Computers (Pvt) Ltd</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=96.3">$1 635587.85 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=97.13">$ 243 052.59 (USD)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.81">Stem Magnetics</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=75.72">$242451. 00(USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.23">$ 150 008. 85(USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.8">Compulink Systems</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.27">$1,138 578.88 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.93">$ 485 118.90(USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.73">Teezik Technologies</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.57">$1 056 597.57 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98">$ 328 640.00 (USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.7">Tafron Technologies</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.74">$ 1 363 508.55 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=97.74">$ 286 627.60(USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.78">Avantis Technologies</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=90.02">$ 530 391. 64 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.21">$167 796.00(USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.86">Top Tech Computers</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.9">$ 179 043 668.95 (ZWL)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=96.53">$508 97 216. 24 (ZWL)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.94">Light House Digital</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=84.1">$ 416757.00 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.74">$ 207 691.00 (USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.89">Kintex Investments</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.82">$796 524.58 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=92.62">$ 325 29.47 (USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.75">Zacks Electronics</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.77">$467 100 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.03">$ 165 900(USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.73">Metro Sol</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=94.65">$ 952 685.05 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.31">$ 237 46.94(USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.62">Palsten Investments</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.38">$ 1 944 698. 19 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.67">$588 550.00 (USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.92">Tafano Investments</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.7">$432 500 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.28">$ 221 200 (USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.66">Wilhart Enterprises</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.79">$ 326 840 250(ZWL)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.67">$113 068 750 (ZWL)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.88">Ovacoda Business</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.31">$ 682 485(USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.71">$209 350 (USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.94">Airhead Investment</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=96.87">$ 462 818.25(USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.2">$138 467.25(USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.84">Blinart investments P/L</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=93.58">$ 1 602 755.77(USD</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=89.64">$333 348.40(USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=94.01">Elite Collection (Pvt) Ltd</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=92.2">$ 150 495.00 (USD)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=94.83">$ 482 151.00(USD)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</blockquote>
Mid-End Computers and Hardware (P/L) had offered to supply 79 Desktops at US$243 052.36 payable at interbank rate.
<a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

List Of Companies That Submitted Bids For Laptops Tender Awarded To Blinart At US$9K Each

The Clerk of Parliament Mr <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Kennedy_Chokuda">Kennedy Chokuda</a> has cancelled the laptop tender that had been awarded to Blinart Investments which would see the government paying over US$9 000 for one laptop. In a letter seen by Pindula News, Chokuda said the procurement requirements shall be re-tendered in due course. Reads the letter dated 23 September 2022:
<blockquote>
Dear Dennis Sakala
<h2>RE: NOTIFICATION OF TENDER CANCELLATION: SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF 173 LAPTOPS AND 79 ALL-IN-ONE DESKTOPS, TENDER NUMBER: PO1/DOM/01312022</h2>
The above subject matter refers. 
In accordance with section 42 (I) (F) of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act (Chapter 22:23), you are hereby notified that the tender for the Supply and Delivery of 173 Laptops and 79 All in One Desktops, tender number PO7JOOM./01312022 has been cancelled in the public interest. It is the ParIiament of ‘Zimbabwe’s considered view that it is not morally and prudentially justifiable to purchase the goods at the tendered price. It is in this context that the initially awarded tender could not be fully concluded as follows:
<table class="table table-bordered table-hover" id="table_1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.59">LOT NO.</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.74">BIDDER</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.74">DESCRIPTION</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.83">TOTAL PRICE (USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=88.11">1</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.7">Blinart Investments P/L</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.44">173 Laptops</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.57">1,602,755.77 payable at interbank rate</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.71">2</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.66">Mid-End Computers and Hardware (P/L)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.89">79 Desktops</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.76">243,052.36 payable at interbank rate</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The procurement requirements shall be re-tendered in due course.
</blockquote>
The tender sparked controversy two weeks ago when details of the deal were shared on social media.
Finance and Economic Development Permanent Secretary, George Guvamatanga, ordered Parliament to <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/09/17/treasury-cancels-tender-authorised-by-parliament-directs-that-suppliers-be-blacklisted/">cancel the tenders and blacklist the suppliers.</a>
Chokuda confirmed that Parliament had awarded the tenders to the two companies after exhausting all the procurement requirements. He however issued a statement on 17 September 2022 noting that he had <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/09/18/chokuda-says-he-cancelled-the-laptop-tenders-in-august/">cancelled the tenders on 9 August 2022.</a>
Critics questioned why Treasury would cancel a tender that had already been cancelled and why Chokuda wrote to other bidders on 29 August 2022, notifying them that Blinart Investments and Mid-End Computers and Hardware had won the tenders.
<h2><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

Chokuda Cancels US$9K/Laptop Tender Says "It's Not Morally Justifiable To Buy At Tendered Price"

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has cancelled a laptop tender that the Parliament had awarded to two companies citing exorbitantly inflated prices. In a letter seen by Pindula News, Finance secretary,<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/George_Guvamatanga"> George Guvamatanga</a> said the suppliers must be blacklisted. We present below the letter addressed to Clerk of Parliament Kennedy Chokuda:
<blockquote>
<h2>RE: TENDER AWARD FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF LAPTOPS AND DESKTOPS</h2>
Reference is made to the above subject matter.
It has come to Treasury’s attention that Parliament of Zimbabwe had awarded a tender for the supply and delivery of laptops and desktops to the following companies as follows:
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.83">BIDDER</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.53">DESCRIPTION</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.81">TOTAL PRICE (USD)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=95.12">Blinart Investments P/L ANCE</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.32">173 Laptops</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.69">1 602 755.77</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=90.7">Mid-End Computers and Hardware (P/L)</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.7">79 Desktops</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.78">243 052.36</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Treasury notes with concern that these suppliers are charging USD9 264.48 and USD3 076.61 for a laptop and desktop, respectively. These USD dollar prices have been exorbitantly inflated way beyond those that are prevailing in the market and hence, are not acceptable.
Notwithstanding the high prices, this tender award is in complete disregard of the Treasury minute dated 3 August 2022, directing line Ministries to ensure value for money for Government and hence, to rationalise all procurement processes with a view to operating within the confines of the willing buyer willing seller foreign exchange rate.
In this regard and to ensure value for money for Government, in line with the Public Finance Management Act [Chapter 22:19] which empowers Treasury to manage and control public resources, Treasury directs that this tender be cancelled and the concerned suppliers be blacklisted from any future Government procurement process. 
</blockquote>
<h2>Pindula News</h2>

Treasury Cancels Tender Authorised By Parliament, Directs That Suppliers Be Blacklisted

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