Ex-NatPharm boss in court 

Source: Ex-NatPharm boss in court – DailyNews

Blessing Masakadza 

FORMER NatPharm acting-managing director and operations manager Zealous Nyabadza has been nabbed on allegations of purchasing and selling surgical masks at the firm without following procurement procedures.

Nyabadza was not asked to plead to allegations of criminal abuse of duty when he appeared before senior regional magistrate Trynois Utawashe.

He was remanded in custody to today for the continuation of his bail application.

It alleged that on May 19 last year, Nyabadza received 28 boxes of 50 surgical masks valued at $54 600 from Sacred Heart Pharmaceuticals without following proper procurement procedures and went on to sign a delivery note as confirmation of receipt.

Prosecutor Ephraim Zinyandu said he allegedly went on to create a contract which was signed on July 13 as a way to cover up for the anomaly.

Allegations are that the masks were never received at the strategic business unit at NatPharm and Nyabadza went on to sell the masks to the Zimbabwe Medical Association for $68 600.

He is accused of making the procurement department at NatPharm generate an internal purchase requisition dated May 19, 2020 which again was not procedural.

The requisition was supposed to have been raised by the strategic business unit responsible for the company’s retail function, the court heard.

Reports are that the offence came to light on July 1, 2020 when the accounts department failed to process payment for Sacred Heart Pharmaceuticals due to lack of quotations and Nyabadza’s attempt to secure quotations through procurement clerks failed.

This resulted in his arrest with the State opposing his admission to bail saying there is likelihood that he will interfere with witnesses and abscond.

The investigating officer Amos Mushayavanhu said Nyabadza had even lied to the police about his whereabouts.