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Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
ZESA Holdings group chief executive Engineer Josh Chifamba yesterday exonerated former Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Steers Mangoma in the case he is accused of flouting tender procedures saying he was a straight forward minister who resisted corruption. However, Eng Chifamba nailed ZESA Holdings managing director Mr Julian Chinembiri for a job failure.
Eng Chifamba told the court during cross-examination that Chinembiri, as the accounting officer, jumped the gun in appointing OK Zimbabwe and is responsible for flouting tender procedures. “I don’t have the legal mind but in my layman understanding, I see that in the appointment of OK Zimbabwe Chinembriri jumped the gun,” said Eng Chifamba.
“I expected Chinembiri to follow procedure and he should have done things the proper way. The fault squarely falls on him. It was not the first time that a tender was cancelled but he should have sought the SPB’s authority before appointing OK Zimbabwe.”
Asked by Mangoma’s lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa if there was any criminal intent on the part of the former minister, Eng Chifamba said Mangoma never accepted corruption. “I remember when we wanted to buy a switch at an exorbitant price and Mangoma advised us against it saying it might cause problems in the future.
“How Mangoma wanted things done was also what we wanted. It’s only that the architecture was different. There are many ways to kill a cat.” Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza closed the State case. Ms Mtetwa undertook to submit her written application. for discharge at the close of the State’s case by Wednesday.
Mr Reza will respond next Monday and Harare magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya will give his ruling the following Wednesday. Mangoma (54) is facing charges of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer . Mr Reza alleged that in August 2012, ZETDC floated tender number ZETDC 13/2012 for the appointment of third party pre-paid electricity vending.
The closing date was October 2 the same year. It is alleged that on September 17, 2012 Mangoma, contrary to or inconsistent with his duties, directed ZETDC accounting officer, Chinembiri to cancel the tender. Furthermore, Mangoma allegedly ordered Chinembiri to hand-pick OK Zimbabwe without going to tender.
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