Former Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Samuel Undenge has been acquitted on the criminal of abuse of office charges relating to his alleged influence in the awarding of the Gwanda Solar Power Project deal to Wicknell Chivayo.

Undenge was discharged at the close of the state case after Harare Magistrate Barbra Chimbodza found that no evidence had been presented by the state linking him to the charges.

Chivayo’s Intratek company was awarded the deal in the absence of the required paperwork and services at the Gwanda solar power project.

Undenge’s lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama said the court found that there was no evidence placed before the court linking Dr Undenge to the charges of having unduly influenced Zimbabwe Power Company to pay Chivayo’s Intratek company US$5 million without following laid down procedures, but rather the key witness former ZPC Managing Director Mr Noah Gwariro was the one complicit in the matter

Meanwhile, the trial of former ICT and Cyber Security Minister and Nyanga South legislator Supa Mandiwanzira has been postponed to the 18th of December after the defence raised concern over the late submission of papers by the state.

Mandiwanzira is alleged to have awarded a private company in which he had vested interests in to undertake consultancy work for NetOne without going to tender and appointing his aide to the POTRAZ board.

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