The High Court ruled on Tuesday that the US$20 million contract entered between Drax Consult SALG (Drax) the National Pharmaceutical Company (Natpharm) for the supply of medicines and medical sundries is valid.
Under the deal, Drax was the supplier.
The ruling comes after Drax approached the High Court contesting an arbitral award nullifying the tender it had been granted for the supply of the medicines and surgical sundries.
Justice Webster Chinamora this Tuesday granted the application by Drax finding that the Procurement Regulations of Zimbabwe Authority Zimbabwe (PRAZ) gave authority to Natpharm to act in accordance with a resolution that had been made in procuring the required medicines and surgical sundries.
The contract was abruptly cancelled after a national public outcry following corruption allegations surrounding it.
However, Drax local representative Delish Nguwaya and former health minister Obadiah Moyo who were arrested in connection to corruption charges relating to the contract, have since been cleared of the charges while three Natpharm top executives have since been removed from remand over the same charges.
Moyo was fired over corruption allegations. Opposition leaders including Transform Zimbabwe’s Jacob Ngarivhume and other stakeholders, including prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono organised a foiled protest over corruption allegations, a move that is believed to have pressurised Presiden Emmerson Mnangagwa to act.
The High Court has attracted outrage from some members of the public who said the judiciary is captured.
Some proposed that if Moyo was indeed innocent, he must be reappointed to his post.
More: The Herald