BEITBRIDGE residents have raised dust over the purchase of a school bus at an inflated price of US$167 000 against a delivery cost of just below US$90 000.
The bus was bought by the council-run Dulibadzimo Primary School.
Residents of Beitbridge, whose mainstay is transport brokerage, clearing and shipping business, suspect fraud.
Locals questioned the price after councillors were seen posing in front of the bus with a price tag of US$167 000.
Residents asked authorities to come clean after suspecting fraud.
“Why do they ask about the price of the bus? Did they pay any cent towards the buying of that bus? They must leave us alone, who are they? We will not respond,” Pathias Mlaleli Ndlovu school development committee chairperson, however, said when reached for comment.
Outspoken Zanu PF member Lawrence Mbanje demanded answers.
“We have a situation where parents have been duped. Where are the invoices? Those buses cost around US$90 000 and not more. People should bring back the money they misappropriated,” Mbanje said.
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An investigation by Southern Eye showed that the bus lands in Zimbabwe from China for less than US$88 000 after all border processes have been done.
“We have several bus operators in Beitbridge and this is the most expensive bus we have ever seen. All operators here buy buses from the same bus builders in China but we have not seen any so expensive,” said a bus operator who asked not to be named.
