Issue written apology first before delivery of bus...

Issue written apology first before delivery of bus, firm tells Lukhanyiso School

Zim Now Writer

A Harare-based engineering company and Lukhanyiso Primary School in Bulawayo are in a stand-off with the former refusing to release a 66-seater bus, demanding that the school issues a public apology first.

Willovale Vehicle Body Engineering wants the school authorities to issue a public apology for claiming previously that the company had supplied them with a second-hand bus saying it was brand new.

The dispute had resulted in the arrest of then headmaster Thintitha Mpofu and School Development Committee chairperson Phethengani Nyoni after parents reported them to the police.

Following the arrest, parents set up an ad hoc committee chaired by Mzilikazi District Schools’ Inspector, Zanele Muyambo.

Mpofu and Nyoni were cleared in both instances with Willovale Vehicle Body Engineering saying their image was tarnished following the unsubstantiated allegations.

On Friday, parents met school authorities and resolved that the school should take delivery of the bus they had returned to the company in 2019 but the company has remained adamant that it will only deliver the bus after the issuance of a public apology by the parents.

The engineering company’s managing director, Silvester Matambo, said like all buses sold to schools and institutions, the bus in question had a 36-month guarantee, adding that the bus will not leave their workshop without a public apology from the school.

“One thing to note is that the bus had a guarantee of 36 months. The problem with Lukhanyiso was that parents were misled by someone in the school management that some bus funds were embezzled leading to internal squabbles,” said Matambo.

He said when the bus came to the company in March 2019 for routine servicing, the parents later informed the company that they no longer wanted the bus.

“The bus has been parked at our workshop since that time. We need a written apology from the SDC for us to release the bus,” said Matambo.

He said their reputation was at stake following the baseless allegations and yet, he claimed, the company had made it clear that the bus, which was bought for US$120 000, was a refurbished vehicle and not a brand new one.