The new Minister Of Energy Joram Macdonald Gumbo has promised to finalise investigations into how convicted fraudster Wicknell Chivayo won nearly $1 billion worth of government tenders.
Gumbo said an audit report is one of his first major tasks.
“I am looking at a forensic audit that has already been initiated by his Excellency, President Mnangagwa,” he told the state media.
Investigation documents seen by ZimEye have revealed that Mnangagwa himself was the head of the board that oversees tender issuing during the time Chivayo won the tenders.
“This is one of my first priorities. I was briefed on the audit report on Thursday (last week) and they (the probe team) are going to come with a final audit report in two weeks.
“I am sure you have heard of many issues, the Chivayo issue (Gwanda solar project), the Dema Diesel Plant, Kariba and Batoka power projects.
“The audit will cover all the subsidiaries that were under Zesa. It will also look at the energy deals and everything else that has been going on there. Once it is done, we will take corrective action where it needs to be taken.”
Zesa has been rocked by massive tender scandals. Former Energy Minister Samuel Undenge is currently before the courts facing charges of criminal abuse of office and fraudulently awarding of power project contracts without following proper tender processes.
In 2016, Mr Undenge is alleged to have handpicked a public relations company owned by former Zanu-PF legislator Psychology Maziwisa and former ZBC news anchor Oscar Pambuka to do consultancy work for Zimbabwe Power Company without going to tender.
The former minister is also being accused of corruptly awarding the Gwanda solar project to Intratrek Zimbabwe.
The State argues that Intratrek was awarded the deal at the instigation of Dr Undenge, resulting in ZPC losing over $5 million.
The Gairezi Project was also awarded to a consortium led by Chivayo’s Intratek. The deal raised eyebrows after its cost shot up to US$248 million from the initial US$90 million budget.
On the Kariba South Power Extension project, which was officially commissioned by former President Robert Mugabe in September 2014, US$355 million had been initially budgeted for, but its cost shot to US$533 million.