(Above: Patrick Siyawamwaya, Owner of Solution Motors)
By Correspondent
In 2019 Nissan South Africa distanced itself from a local company, Solutions Motors (Pvt) Ltd.
It debunked the notion that it was in any way linked to Solution Motors Zimbabwe.
This was after Solution Motors allegedly prejudiced government of US$207 540 worth of vehicles not delivered from a 2018 deal.
What is strange is that Solution Motors continues being engaged by Government and Local Authorities in more vehicle deals.
Which it has continuously botched!
Below we profile some of the high profile cases in which the company prejudiced customers of their money.
Bad Deals
According to the 2018 Auditor-General’s report, the Department of Irrigation in the Ministry of Agriculture bought 10 vehicles from Solutions Motors worth US$518 850.
However, only six vehicles were delivered with the remaining four worth US$207 540 not delivered.
The Ministry of Agriculture paid for 3 Toyota Hilux 2,4 double cabs and three Nissan NP300 4×4 single cabs.
They were to be received within a six-week period after the tender was awarded in December 2017.
Of these vehicles, two Toyota Hilux and two Nissan vehicles still remain undelivered.
Chiredzi Council
In 2021 Chiredzi Rural District Council (RDC) was left counting its losses and is now seeking to recover over $6 158 120 from embattled Solution Motors again.
The vehicle dealer, that was later blacklisted by the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), failed to fulfil its bargain.
Motor Solutions had won a tender to supply a Toyota Fortuner for the council’s chief executive officer (CEO) in October 2020.
It promised to deliver by the end of November, but failed to meet the deadline.
Chiredzi RDC CEO Ailes Baloyi revealed that the local authority had since written to Solution Motors demanding full repayment, plus 10% damages.
“Yes, Solution Motors won a tender to supply a Toyota Fortuner in October last year and promised to deliver by the end of November.
Command Deals
During the Command Agriculture phase, Solution Motors was paid $1 Million by the government to deliver some command agriculture vehicles.
However, the company, again failed to fulfil its side of the bargain.
In 2022, the Ministry of Information was also duped by Solution Motors, in a $47m deal.
The company was paid about ZW$47m to supply seven Toyota GD6 double cabs, four Datsun Go vehicles and one Renault K-wid.
However, it only supplied four Datsun Go and one Renault K-wid vehicles.
This led to the Ministry to suffer a prejudice of about ZW$33m.
However, a fraud charge against Solution Motors owner Patrick Siyawamwaya and two other accused collapsed.
This was after Harare chief magistrate, Faith Mushure, ruled that the State failed to prove its allegations.
Siyawamwaya consequently walked free with the court telling the parties to pursue civil remedies.
“The relief the complainant seeks should be pursued in the civil court,” the magistrate ruled.