adminTinashe Farawo
FORMER Energy and Power Development Minister and MDC Renewal Treasurer-general Mr Elton Mangoma has been granted a $1000 bail in a case in which he is charged with criminal abuse of public office during
He was arrested yesterday (Tuesday).
Mangoma, who was represented by his lawyer, Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate, Vakai Chikwekwe.
As part of his bail conditions, Mangoma was ordered to surrender his passport, continue residing at his given address in Harare, not interfere with state witnesses and report once every week at Harare Central Police station.
The state alleged that during his term as Energy and Power Development Minister, Mangoma’s duty was to oversee the operations of ZESA Holdings Pvt Ltd and its subsidiaries including ZETDC Pvt Ltd.
It is the state’s case that on 31 August 2012, ZETDC Pvt Ltd floated tender number ZETDC 13/2012 for the appointment of third party pre-paid electricity vending with a closing date of October 2012.
On 17 September, before the closure of the tender, it is purported that Mangoma, contrary to his duties as a public officer, directed ZETDC managing director, Engineer Julian Chinembiri, to cancel the tender.
It is further alleged that he instructed the managing director to hand pick OK Zimbabwe without going to tender.
On 27 September 2012, the State Procurement Board cancelled the tender through PBR 1735 in line with the ZETDC request as directed by the then minister.
On 20 December the same year, OK Zimbabwe was appointed the third party pre-paid electricity vendor as per instruction by Mangoma.
Online Reporter