Shun middlemen syndrome, councils told

GOVERNMENT has castigated local authorities for using middlemen in the procurement of products and services including water treatment chemicals rather than dealing directly with the manufacturers, which is proving too costly.

This comes after Harare City Council shut down of Morton Jaffray on Monday last week, leaving the entire Harare metropolitan without water. The local authority blamed middlemen for delaying the delivery of the chemicals which was stuck at the border.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo made the remarks on the sidelines of his tour at Splash Paints and Plastics Company on Thursday.

He was also accompanied by some engineers from the ministry and Harare mayor Councillor Hebert Gomba.

“I was talking to Harare Town Clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango about your chemicals, I do not understand or appreciate why you continue to buy from middlemen.

“But at least you are a big organisation you will be able to get clearance from PRAZ they are happy to do so.

“Go and buy directly from the factory rather than middlemen who then start cheating and lying that your consignment is at the border when it’s not there.

“Let those building their individual houses buy from a wholesaler or retailer, but big organisations like Harare (City Council) or the ministry ought to get your supplies from manufacturers.”

Minister Moyo also urged urban local authorities to buy equipment and products for infrastructure development from local manufacturers rather than importing the same to boost the economy.

He said supporting domestic industry was in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision of creating an upper middle income economy by 2030.

“What we have been pushing for is for local organisations to buy from domestic manufacturers because there will be no need for foreign currency to procure the same things readily available locally.”