WHY UNDENGE WAS ACQUITTED

A Harare magistrate, says she acquitted former Energy Minister, Samuel Undenge because the State failed to provide sufficient evidence. Un...

A Harare magistrate, says she acquitted former Energy Minister, Samuel Undenge because the State failed to provide sufficient evidence.

Undenge had been charged with abuse of office after he was alleged to have influenced the awarding of the Gwanda Solar Power Project deal to Wicknell Chivayo’s company Intratek.

Ms Barbra Chimboza  said that the State’s main witness, Noah Gwariro’s evidence was not reliable as he had reason to lie to avoid arrest and conviction since he was once Undenge’s co-accused.

She also said that the State had failed to provide concrete evidence that Undenge had phoned Gwariro at the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and instructed him to pay Intratrek as it had alleged.
The State had argued that Intratrek was awarded the said tender at the instigation of Undenge resulting in ZPC losing over $5 million. Undenge was sentenced to four years in prison in another case and he has since appealed against the sentence at the High Court.

Chivayo’s trial was postponed to December 12 for continuation.