RUBAVU- The district has given a contractor who was awarded a tender to construct a laboratory at Gisenyi Health Centre, up to 20 days to finish the construction or have his contract terminated.

Dieudonne Nsabimana, the owner of ECOTAM Construction Company was awarded the tender five months ago, to construct the laboratory  worth Rwf20 million. 

Sources say the contractor  started construction work  and stopped later before completing, even after he had received full payment.

The construction was being funded by UNICEF. Sources further revealed that the health centre authorities hastily paid the contractor because UNICEF had threatened to take back the money as unutilised.

In a letter addressed to the mayor dated October 05, 2009, which The New Times has seen, the head of the health centre Miriam Mukeshimana, said they paid the contractor the full amount in return for a bank guarantee of Rwf10.3 million which was  deposited on the health centre’s  account at BCR Gisenyi branch.

It has however, emerged that health centre officials are investigating circumstances under which the Rwf10.3 million guarantee disappeared from the health centre account. The health centre authorities are blaming the bank for the loss.

However, BCR branch manager, Vedaste Musafiri said the bank was not responsible for the loss. Talking to The New Times, the Rubavu vice Mayor in charge of Economic planning, Everest Bizimana, indicated that the district is considering penalising the health centre leaders who sanctioned the payment.

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