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chairman Retired Lieutenant General Mike Nyambuya has hit back at the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission over the manner in which it sought information from the organisation saying ZACC’s actions were aimed at embarrassing NIEEB and throw the whole indigenisation programme into disrepute.In a statement issued in Harare yesterday, Rtd Lt Gen Nyambuya said the “embarrassing and unfortunate” allegations that the commission was prevented from searching NIEEB’s offices was a clear and grand scheme to label NIEEB and its officials corrupt.
“It was reported in some sections of the media in the last few weeks that the ZACC was investigating NIEEB on graft allegations arising from certain indigenisation transactions.
The reports alleged that the ZACC had tried unsuccessfully to access documents relating to these transactions but were prevented by NIEEB officials.
“The picture painted by the media was that NIEEB had deliberately and wilfully withheld or refused with such information allegedly, to cover up corrupt activities. This is not true.”
He said that NIEEB was never formally requested for any documents, but ZACC officials tried to force their way into their offices carrying a “wrongly and illegally obtained” search warrant that was successfully challenged in the High Court.
Responding to the issues that the ZACC sought a search warrant from the court to have access to NIEEB empowerment transactions, Mr Nyambuya said most of the information they sought was in the public domain. He said names of over 500 mining companies that had complied with the indigenisation laws had also been published in the media.
He said that NIEEB did not approve or sign any contract with Top Harvest for advisory services on any indigenisation transaction. The ZACC warrant also wanted copies of contracts between mining companies, NIEEB and community trusts, contract documents of NIEEB and Brainworks and the community trust deeds concerning Zimplats, Unki, Mimosa, PPC, Murowa, Lafarge Cement, BAT and Blanket Mine.
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“It is thus apparent, that the manner in which the ZACC sought information had nothing to do with that information more than its desire, for some unknown reason, to embarrass NIEEB and throw into disrepute the whole indigenisation programme.
“This is evident from the sensational and grossly-incorrect report by the Daily News that the ZACC officers were prevented from searching NIEEB’s offices by its gun-wielding officers. This embarrassing and unfortunate allegation reveals a clear grand scheme to label NIEEB and its officials corrupt.
“NIEEB believes that it has undertaken its mandate in terms of the Indigenisation Act in a transparent and open manner. NIEEB has nothing to hide and is open to scrutiny by the public to which it is accountable. NIEEB is, and will always be ready to co-operate fully with any national body and any person that seeks to understand the manner in which indigenisation transactions have been undertaken, including the ZACC.
“All indigenisation transactions have been done in accordance with the indigenisation law.
“The law implicitly requires negotiating and reaching an agreement with non-indigenous businesses on the terms and conditions of disposal of 51 percent shareholding. This was achieved with the assistance of various properly-appointed advisors.”
The NIEEB chairman said they would in consultation with the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment forge ahead with the indigenisation programme to ensure that communities are empowered and continue reaping the benefits of the exploitation of natural resources.
Online Reporter