ELTON MANGOMA
RDZ PRESIDENT AND CODE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE 2018
1. I am here to make a statement of correction and order. Having listened to what was said, and what was reported in the newspapers and ZBC, it leaves one to wonder why other people cannot appreciate the achievements of someone.
2. On Monday 12th 2018, Ms. Thandiwe Mlobane appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy, which was following up on the illegal and fraudulent payments to Wicknell Chivayo. In answer to a question, she said Minister Mangoma introduced Intratek, a company fronting Chivayo. This was wrong, misinformed and mischievous, at no point did I introduce Intratek to ZPC or ZESA. Ms. Mlobane only joined the ZPC board after I had left and was spreading at best hearsay if not outright lies. How do you introduce anyone for a public tender?
3. I requested that a Feasibility study be done before the solar project could go for tender. A feasibility study is often necessary for projects of this size so as to avoid costly errors. The model I was promoting is that of an Independent Power Producer (IPP) which takes away the need for the state to spend any of its money. This way the cost of the project is up to the owners and the tariff payable is regulated by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA).
4. The tender was only flighted on 20 June 2013. The elections were on 31 July 2013 and as you know this was election season. The closing date was in September 2013. For the record I left the ministry before the elections. I was not there when the tender was closed or adjudicated. I was not there when the tenders were received and adjudicated. This tender was cancelled and retendered in 2014. I was not there.
5. I see this as a smear campaign, yet another attempt at throwing mud at my good name. I was arrested twice as a minister and once after I had left the ministry in 2015 on trumped up corruption charges. I was cleared by the courts of any wrong doing. Mangoma is not corrupt, abhors corruption and fights corruption. This latest attempt will not succeed either.
6. I have written to Parliament offering to appear before the Parliamentary Committee on Mines and Energy, not only to clear my name but to address other issues given my vast experience in the area and good governance in general.
7. This is being done so as to minimize the excellent work I did when I was a minister. I have a proven record of achievement in the ministry. Here are some of the achievements
• The Kariba expansion by 300MW soon to be completed
• Prepaid meters with debt management
• Settling the CAPCO debt with Zambia and agreement to have the Batoka Gorge Hydro – scuttled after I left
• Settling the debt with Mozambique and South Africa to ensure reliable supply and reduce load shedding/
• Renegotiated the Beira pipeline contract to reduce costs and used the pipeline to capacity for the first time since it was constructed in the 1960s.
• Restructured Noczim and stopped the huge losses it was making.
• Put in a fuel system which avoids fuel shortages and the black market.
8. There is no doubt this performance worries some people who have nothing to show for all the time they have spent in Government. People want performance and not rhetoric. My candidacy is based on providing solutions to the country’s problems and bringing prosperity to the people.
9. CODE’s narrative is based on 5 pillars
• Reducing the presidential powers and ensuring that Zimbabwe will not produce another constitutional dictator, avoid one centre of power by the creation of a Supreme Council.
• Having a Government and society guided by principles and values, accepting each other as equals, Freedom, servant leadership, fighting violence, tyranny and corruption and bringing back UBUNTU.
• Genuine empowerment of Women, Youths and the Disabled
• Realising the Zimbabwean Potential in all spheres by allowing and nurturing talent, entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Growing the economy by double digits, achieving shared growth, jobs, making Zimbabwe a low cost producer and development. This will be done through
i) Transforming and reconstructing state enterprises, government and local government.
ii) Leaveraging existing businesses
iii) Giving title to agricultural land and Agricultural productivity
iv) Investment promotion, Innovation and Entreprenuership.
v) Re basing the currency
vi) Debt forgiveness
vii) Infrastructure development
viii) Macro and micro economic stability