Prosecutors Discredit Evidence By Key Witness To Parirenyatwa Case
There was an attempt by prosecutors to discredit evidence given by key witnesses yesterday during the trial of former Health and child Care minister David Parirenyatwa.
George Washaya, the director of National Pharmaceutical who is also the key witness, defended Parirenyatwa’s decision to dismiss Sikefu and replace her with Madzikwa. Among other reasons, the witness cited Sikefu’s lack of alertness.
The prosecutor, Brian Vito was however not convinced as to why Washaya accepted Parirenyatwa’s decision against lawyers’ advice.
Washaya however contintued defending the former Health Minister’s decision noting that he had no other option. He said:
We sought legal opinion from Madzonga and Associates and we were advised that the minister cannot do that… He (Parirenyatwa) was doing so much for NatPharm and the ministry. There was no reason for the board to doubt his opinion.
Like I said earlier during cross examination with the defence counsel, the outgoing managing director was not responding to demands quickly and had served more than 10 years at NatPharm.
Parirenyatwa is accused of nepotism after he allegedly directed National Pharmaceutical Company (Natpharm) board chairperson George Washaya to terminate Flora Nancy Sifeku’s contract and replace her with Newman Madzikwa.
The board however granted both Sikefu and Mudzikwa six months contracts from June 1 to November 30 resulting in NatPharm paying salaries for two managing directors.
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