Own Correspondent/State Media
Kuda Tagwirei Zimbabweans are shocked to hear that businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei has denied any involvement in Landela Investments which has been buying ZUPCO buses for and with government.
The disclaimer has left many wondering what could be up coming that could be leading to the sudden turn of events.
Landela Investment is a subsidiary of a multinational commodity trading group Sotic International Ltd a Mauritius-based firm. Sotic International Ltd has business interests in minerals and oil trade across the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region and Zimbabwe has very strong links to Tagwirei.
Screen shot of a State Media article linking Kuda Tagwirei to Landela Investments. Sotic International is also part of the Great Dyke Investments (GDI) board which is also heavily linked with the businessman known for close association with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Tagwirei who through the years has in many media houses including state media has been associated with Landela Investments and Sotic International, burst out disowning Landela after reports emerged that he may have pocketed US$54 million from selling buses to the Government at heavily inflated prices through Landela Investments.
State run Sunday Mail, was first to reveal the procurement of the coaches through Landela Investments quoting an official from Landela Investments who immediately declared the deal as highly sensitive.
The paper disclosed that under the deal that was struck with Government, the firm uses foreign currency generated from its local ventures to facilitate the transaction, which will then be settled by authorities using local currency at the official interbank exchange rate.
“Apart from this being our own way of contributing to this economy, we as Landela have mines around the country and we can use the local currency payments by Government to cover the local needs of our mines,” a company representative, who elected to remain anonymous owing to the sensitivity of the matter, told The Sunday Mail.
Mr Tagwirei, through his lawyer Mr Wellington Pasipanodya of Manase & Manase Legal Practitioners, said the reports were false and defamatory.
He has since written to the publishers of the original article, Zimbabwe Independent, demanding an apology and is willing to sue for defamation damages.
Part of the news story complained of reads: “Through his company Landela Investments, Tagwirei will import 500 additional buses for mass public transportation at a unit price of US$58 900 from Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Company in China and that he will then sell each bus to the Government for US$212 962.”
The article was headlined,“Mnangagwa’s ally pockets US$54m in fresh bus deal”
Responding to the article, Mr Tagwirei’s lawyers said their client does not own Landela Investments and has no business of personal interest in that company.
“Our client cannot fathom the reason behind such a false story. The only logical conclusion is that the defamatory story was published with actual malice and reckless disregard for the falsity of the information that, for all intents and purposes, is fabricated and aimed at tarnishing the reputation and good standing of our client as a businessman both locally and internationally.
“Our client is further concerned by the fact that your false story is trending on your website. Numerous other sister websites of yours have also attributed the story to you and have duplicated the story to you.”
The lawyers said the reports were defamatory and have an effect of lowering Mr Tagwirei’s esteem.