Paul Nyathi

The government on Tuesday re-instated Zesa Holdings executive chairman Dr Sydney Gata after he was cleared on four of the six corruption charges that he was facing.

Dr Gata was suspended on August 6 this year to pave way for investigations by the Zimbabwe Anti-corruption Commission.

He was facing six acts of misconduct which included self-allocation of six vehicles for personal and family use, authorising expenditure of ZW$10 million for Christmas parties in Hwange and Kariba in 2019 without board approval as well as installing solar equipment at his residence using Zesa funds among others.

In a statement, chief secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said Dr Gata would resume his duties while investigations into the two remaining allegations were being finalised.

“The interim report cleared Dr Gata of the first four allegations. With regards to the last two allegations, Zacc is yet to conclude its investigations,” he said.

“With regards to allegations against the board members, the interim report indicates that the investigations are still in progress,” he said.

Dr Sibanda said President Mnangagwa directed that Dr Gata be reinstated.

“His Excellency the President, being cognisant of the fact that Zesa is at the epicentre of the economic activity of the nation and that it would not be desirable for this entity to operate below optimal efficiency due to lack of leadership at its helm, has directed as follows:

“That the executive chairman of Zesa, Dr S Gata while investigations are on-going, be allowed to carry on his responsibility as executive chairman and that the board members also continue in their positions until the finalisation of the investigations,” he said.

President Mnangagwa also directed Energy Minister Zhemu Soda to examine corporate governance issues that were raised in the Zacc interim report and present his recommendations to him by November 30 this year.