Kuda Tagwirei’s Landela Investments (Pvt) Limited has reportedly offered to sell buses to the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) for far much less than what the government has been quoted by other suppliers.
According to ZBC News Online, the government has a lease agreement with Landela and stands to benefit immensely by completing the bus purchase agreement.
The publication says its investigations revealed that local dealers are US$70 000, US$73 000, and US$144 000 more expensive than the US$213 000 Landela price for each bus to government.
ZBC News says its sources have revealed that Landela has proposed to sell its 162 buses leased at CMED at a total of ZW$863 million at the interbank rate, pegged at 25.
This will save the government more than ZW$ 1.5 million going by the prevailing differences. ZBC quotes its source as saying:
If Landela was to sell buses at the parallel market rate, it would cost government ZW$2.3 billion which would be ridiculous.
… Public Service Commission purchased the same kind of buses from another local dealer at US$223 327.24 a difference of US$10 000 more than Landela’s figures.
… What is unclear at this stage is why the government seems unwilling to close a deal that will save it significant funds.