Zimpapers Logo

Minister Makhosini Hlongwane

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
A director of one of the companies that provided services during the 2014 Region Five Under-20 Youth Games in Bulawayo but have not been paid as yet, has suffered a stroke after some of his properties were attached over unpaid debts.

While the Government, through the Ministry of Sport and Recreation has repeatedly said it will only pay after the conclusion of a Cabinet approved forensic audit as they are fears that some service providers inflated their charges, a number of the companies have literally closed shop with mounting court orders for property attachment now the order of the day.

“We have heard of that unfortunate incident (director suffering a stroke) but as a ministry we can only move forward after the completion of  the forensic audit which we hope can be anytime soon now,” said the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Recreation, Benson Dube.

He said they still remain fully committed to paying the service providers.

However, the companies that provided service are also losing patience.

“These promises have been coming and surely until when? Time and again we have been repeating the same chorus that we rendered our services in the interest of the nation with the hope of earning something but now we are worse off than before. Employees have been laid off not because of our liking but because we can no longer afford. What kind of an audit takes three years? Right now the Cosafa Games are using some of the equipment which was supplied by us while we wallow in poverty,” said a representative of the suppliers.

The suppliers have previously appealed to President Mugabe to intervene and order that they receive their payments.

“We believe the President is not aware of our plight or is being misinformed. We have consistently said that we offered our services for the love of our country, but we are now poorer than before. Some of us have since closed shop and we are being told the same story time and again,” said a suppliers’ representative.

Sport and Recreation Minister Makhosini Hlongwane has previously said his ministry would not release money for “poor service delivery” and accused some contractors of shoddy workmanship.

He said payments would only be made after a Cabinet ordered forensic audit report was finalised, but the suppliers are unhappy with his stance.

“Surely we can’t all suffer because of a few individuals that didn’t do their job. Those that didn’t live up to expectations must suffer the consequences. We had employees who are now jobless or have gone for months without pay, not because we don’t want to pay them, but because we have nothing. A number of us are facing lawsuits and our credit worthiness is now at zero. The audit exercise has been concluded and we ought to be paid now,” said the representative.

The suppliers are believed to be owed over $1.5 million by the Government. — @skhumoyo2000.