Mugabe’s office abets corruption

Source: Mugabe’s office abets corruption – The Zimbabwe Independent June 24, 2016

THE Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) has blocked the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment from investigating Sakunda Energy on the controversial Dema Diesel Power Plant, it has emerged.

By Elias Mambo

This comes amid growing concerns President Robert Mugabe’s office could have corruptly helped Sukunda to secure the stinking deal. APR Energy Holdings initially won the tender, but was side-lined in favour of Sakunda.

As exposed by the Zimbabwe Independent, Sakunda, owned by Zanu PF benefactor Kuda Tagwirei, partnered Mugabe’s in-law Derrick Chikore, brother to Simba who is married to the president’s daughter Bona, in the dodgy and costly deal without going to tender.

Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), which commissioned the project, could have saved approximately USD$200 million over three years had it explored other alternatives such as the use of liquid petroleum gas instead of diesel powered generators at the 200MW Dema Diesel Power Plant.

The contract, which is likely to run for three years, was initially set at US$194 million a year, but has been reduced to US$83 million following pressure from the media and Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) officials.

Sources this week said the chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on Youth,