Wicknell Chivayo’s Gwanda solar project tender documents were prepared for him by the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), Engi...
Wicknell Chivayo’s Gwanda solar project tender documents
were prepared for him by the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC),
Engineer Stanley Kazhanje’s firm, it has been revealed.
The Zimbabwe Independent reports that Kazhanje, through his
company Terminal Engineers (Pvt) Ltd, prepared tender documents for Intratek,
but did not declare his interest to the board during several meetings that
deliberated on the project.
Kazhanje has suspended ZPC managing director Noah Gwariro
for three months, to pave way for investigations into how Chivayo was paid $5
million without a guarantee. But Gwariro,
through his lawyers Hogwe, Dzimirai and Partners, has however written to
Kazhanje challenging his suspension and involvement in the investigation,
citing the alleged conflict of interest.
“We address you at the instance of our above-mentioned
client and refer to your letter dated 12 December 2017. From the instructions
we have, it is apparent that you have a massive conflict of interest on account
of the following factors,” the lawyers wrote.
“Prior to your appointment a(s) ZPC Board chairman, you
were contracted to Intratek through your company called Terminal Engineers
(Pvt) Ltd. You even prepared the tender documents for the Gwanda Project on
behalf of Intratek.
“Notwithstanding the foregoing, you never declared your
conflict of interest to the Board at several meetings that deliberated on the
Gwanda project.”
The lawyers said Gwariro’s suspension was therefore a
nullity.
“In the premises, it would be wholly inappropriate for you
to be involved with ‘investigations’ into allegations of irregularities in the
management of the 100MW Gwanda Solar Power Station Project. For that reason, we
have advised our client that your purported suspension of him is a nullity and
he will accordingly be reporting for duty,” the lawyers stated.
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