Controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s multi-million energy deals with the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) are in jeopardy, as Zesa Holdings has reportedly started a process to review the tenders because of his criminal record.
According to documents seen by The Standard last week, some Zesa board members have started querying how Chivayo was awarded deals worth $441 million, given his 2004 conviction for fraud.
The board members want an investigation to establish whether there were no violations of the Companies and State Procurement Board (SPB) Act when Chivayo was awarded the contracts.
Former Finance minister Herbert Murerwa’s board is worried that ZPC’s association with an ex-convict could pose financial and reputational risk to the organisation.
“In the past few days, the media has been awash with articles about this gentleman and of concern is that ZPC, during our term, has awarded various multi-million dollar tenders to a convicted fraudster,” a document copied to all board members reads.
Zesa chief executive officer Josh Chifamba and ZPC board chair Stan Kazhanje were some of the many people copied in the email.
Chivayo was sentenced to five years imprisonment with labour, with two years suspended to three, after being found guilty of stealing $37 665 000 through false pretence in 2004.
“I think this poses various questions to which we must have answers and take corrective action to contain the financial and reputational risk which this situation presents as the shareholder of ZPC.According to the Companies Act, can a convicted fraudster be a director and a shareholder for a company?” the document queries.
“Was the conviction disclosed to us at tender stage and if so, did we make a deliberate decision to overlook this?”
The document further asked if ZPC did a proper job to award Chivayo the tender under the circumstances and what corrective measures the company could take.
The procurement policies, the document added, lacked checks and balances as it focused on financial and technical compliance, overlooking the need to engage with reputable individuals and companies.
“We owe the people of Zimbabwe a better deal than Intratek. If we have integrity, how do we align ourselves with such a company?
“No doubt due to the recent articles, heads will also roll from our principal who has somewhat been dragged to the foray. In my view, the ZPC board and management have a case to answer and so do we as Zesa Holdings,” reads the leaked document.
“I believe that the reputation of ZPC, ZH, board and management and Zesa at large is at risk as a result of this and as a board, we urgently need to address this matter. It would be a serious lapse in judgment or unwise of us if we were to ignore it or wish it away.”
It added: “In our role, we hold the nation’s hopes to bring desperately needed power solutions to the nation of Zimbabwe.
“I feel it is only our duty to have a position and solution on how we can possibly get ourselves out of this situation where we have placed such a huge responsibility on Intratek to deliver those hopes not on one occasion, but on several of those opportunities.”
Kazhanje referred all questions to Zesa spokesperson Fullard Gwasira.
Gwasira promised to respond by last night but had not done so at the time of going to print. Chifamba’s phone was not being answered yesterday.
Chivayo’s Intratrek was given a ZPC tender to set up solar power stations.-Standard
8 Replies to “Wicknell’s $400million Deals Probed”
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“Unfair” only if Wicknell had not repeated that for which he was locked at Chikurubi in the first place. Hapana PHD syndrome apa. Supporting Wicknell at this point kugota mwoto wembavha!
“Unfair” only if Wicknell had not repeated that for which he was locked at Chikurubi in the first place. Hapana PHD syndrome apa. Supporting Wicknell at this point kugota mwoto wembavha!
The man is a known fraudster. We’re talking of millions of tax payers money being risked here. The ZPC board must do a forensic audit of how the tender was awarded. Did Wicknell disclose his fraudulent past? The investigation might touch a raw nerve with the ZvimbaNostra as this Fatty Boom Boom has used the Dzasukwa name to farther his businesses. That picture with Dr. Fugu and Junior he posted on FB might embarass the Gushungos if they have any shame at all.
I said before that Wicknell should have chopped his money quietly without his megaphone antics on FB and his “marriage” to Chiyangwa and Zifa.
His next problemail will be from the UAE, the UK and USA who will definitely cancel his visas as he might have not declared his incarceration on the visa application form.
Some we label us as jealous malcontents but the man was blowing his trumpet too loudly. I’m sure Zimra will instigate investigations of tax evasion when he returns if they haven’t already. How does he expect to get away with glaring evidence of sales slips watches costing $50K splashed on social media.
Wicknell himself admitted he’s a front for some very wealthy people. The million dollar question is who or whom.
The man is a known fraudster. We’re talking of millions of tax payers money being risked here. The ZPC board must do a forensic audit of how the tender was awarded. Did Wicknell disclose his fraudulent past? The investigation might touch a raw nerve with the ZvimbaNostra as this Fatty Boom Boom has used the Dzasukwa name to farther his businesses. That picture with Dr. Fugu and Junior he posted on FB might embarass the Gushungos if they have any shame at all.
I said before that Wicknell should have chopped his money quietly without his megaphone antics on FB and his “marriage” to Chiyangwa and Zifa.
His next problemail will be from the UAE, the UK and USA who will definitely cancel his visas as he might have not declared his incarceration on the visa application form.
Some we label us as jealous malcontents but the man was blowing his trumpet too loudly. I’m sure Zimra will instigate investigations of tax evasion when he returns if they haven’t already. How does he expect to get away with glaring evidence of sales slips watches costing $50K splashed on social media.
Wicknell himself admitted he’s a front for some very wealthy people. The million dollar question is who or whom.
This guy is uneducated and besides has no clue of what grid electricity and solar powe generstion is all about other than relying on his foreign business partners who also have dubious businesses. On another note ZPC or ZESA are not aware of what solar generation entails and what you look out for in terms of the engineering and technical elements of the whole project or projects. There are high level load flow and fault level studies to run before you even go to tender, which I am confident wasn’t done because there is no such expertise in ZESA these days.
This guy is uneducated and besides has no clue of what grid electricity and solar powe generstion is all about other than relying on his foreign business partners who also have dubious businesses. On another note ZPC or ZESA are not aware of what solar generation entails and what you look out for in terms of the engineering and technical elements of the whole project or projects. There are high level load flow and fault level studies to run before you even go to tender, which I am confident wasn’t done because there is no such expertise in ZESA these days.
Can someone tell, Is the purpose of being condenmed to prison not for someone to repent and transform? Are our prisons not correctional and reformation centres? I feel people are not being unfair with Sir Wicknel. I see some people obcessed with the PHD syndrome (Please Pull him Down).
Can someone tell, Is the purpose of being condenmed to prison not for someone to repent and transform? Are our prisons not correctional and reformation centres? I feel people are not being unfair with Sir Wicknel. I see some people obcessed with the PHD syndrome (Please Pull him Down).