Zimbabwe Newspaper Wins Landmark Case Against Ministers Refusing to Reveal Details of Zupco, Lindela Bus Purchasing AgreementA privately-owned publication reports that The Zimbabwe Independent newspaper has won a landmark case after it sued state ministers, who refused to reveal details of an agreement that was signed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government and Landela Investments for the purchase of buses designed for public transportation. NewsDay newspaper reports that The Zimbabwe Independent and Transparency International cited three ministers as respondents. According to the newspaper, in his ruling, Justice Joseph Mafusire ordered the Local Government, Finance and Transport ministries to provide reasons why they were refusing to provide the requested information within seven days. The newspaper reports that in his ruling, Justice Mafusire said, “Within seven days of the date of this order, the first and second respondents shall supply the first applicant, through its legal practitioners Atherstone and Cook, with the written reasons for their refusal to provide the information sought by the applicants ZimInd Publishers and Transparency International Zimbabwe through letters to the respondents dated 3 September 2021, 9 September 2020, 2 March pertaining to the procurement of the 64-seater buses consigned to the Zupco.” Justice Mafusire ruled that the ministries had failed to provide solid reasons why they were refusing with the information, according to the newspaper. Lawyers representing the three ministers argued that they are not obliged to reveal any details related to the Zupco deal. NewsDay cited reports in the Herald which quoted state officials that the government secured some buses from China that were allegedly sold to it at inflated prices. The Zimbabwe Independent published a story in March 2020, in which it reported that government had initially signed a hire purchase agreement with Landela Investments, but had subsequently decided to pay Landela Investments US$863,2 million for 162 buses. The newspaper reported that Landela Investments allegedly later sold each bus to government for US$212 962, yet the company had purchased them from China for US$58,900. Zupco (Zimbabwe United Passenger Company) is owned by the government. Information secretary, Nick Mangwana, was unavailable for comment.