Another Mnangagwa Ally Bags Lucrative Ambulance Tender

📅 Published: August 17, 2025

Curated by AllZimNews.com

During the last full council meeting, councillors clashed bitterly over the deal, which will see Harare residents payingdouble feesfor ambulances — an upfront charge for services on top of the existingUS$1 monthly emergency services levyalready collected by council.

Civil society groups argue that the contract is another example of the ruling party’s patronage system at work.

Precious Shumba, director of the Harare Residents Trust, blasted the arrangement:
“Privatisation of public services is not the best way to improve health delivery.

The Discovery Ambulance Services deal was not selected through a competitive bidding process but handpicked on an unsolicited submission.

Such contracts, with financial implications for millions of residents, must be transparent and accountable. ”
Similarly,Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) coordinator, Reuben Akili, accused the city of being captured by political elites:
“There was no proper tendering, no due processes.

The City of Harare has been collecting emergency levy funds all year to buy ambulances, yet not a single vehicle has been procured.

Instead, residents are being punished by deals that enrich Zanu PF-linked cronies. ”
Currently, Harare’s 2. 4 million residents rely on onlyfour functioning public ambulances, compared to the international standard of at least 48, highlighting how dire the shortage is.

Critics also point out that Munowenyu joins a long list of Mnangagwa’s allies who have benefitted from questionable state or council tenders.

These include:
The latest ambulance deal fits into this entrenched system ofpolitical patronage and tenderpreneurship, where loyalty to Mnangagwa is often rewarded with contracts at the expense of transparency and service delivery.

Council spokespersonStanley Gamareferred questions to mayorJacob Mafume, who was unavailable.

CouncillorDenford Ngadziorecondemned the move:
“Residents are already paying an ambulance levy.

Forcing them to pay cash again when picked up is exploitation.

This deal benefits one businessman at the expense of the public. ”
The founder and CEO of Discovery Ambulance,David Munowenyu, did not respond to questions. 🔗

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