Government Contractor Buys Himself Rolls Royce

A Lusaka businessman who is being contracted by the government to procure 46 vehicles for the justice department has bought himself a Rolls Royce Wraith before fulfilling his end of the agreement.  

Chiza Gondwe, who owns the Burma Car Wash in Lusaka, was provisionally awarded a $1 million contract in November to import the vehicles for government use. According to a statement from his elder brother, Kennedy, the agreement with Burma’s parent company - Saragao General Dealers - has not yet been finalised and the Rolls Royce was not purchased using government funds as they have not been made available. 

The little-known firm beat out several more established car dealerships to win the contract, including Toyota Zambia, Southern Cross Motors and Hazida Motors. Sarago was due to deliver the vehicles early in December but Kennedy Gondwe said it was still waiting for the contract to be signed. 

According to Mr Gondwe, the government vehicles have arrived in Zambia but Sarago has not yet received any payment for them. 

“The decision to go ahead and procure the cars for the Judiciary (even before money exchanged hands) was to further show capacity to deliver and impress a new client – the government.” He explained. 

Mr Gondwe maintains that the car was bought before Serago was awarded the government contract. The car was recently spotted by reporters parked outside Chiza’s fitness centre in Kabwata. 

Chiza Gondwe’s Rolls Royce parsed near his fitness centre