Mutezo siphons $100 000

via Mutezo siphons $100 000 | The Herald 9 December 2014 by Felex Share

Energy and Power Development Deputy Minister Engineer Munacho Mutezo siphoned nearly $100 000 from Zesa Holdings and its subsidiaries in ten months to fund factional activities in Manicaland that were aimed at toppling President Mugabe. The money was creamed off under the guise of Zanu-PF donations.

It has emerged that part of the money never reached its intended beneficiaries.

Documents prepared by Zesa management for Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire, obtained by The Herald, show that in two days alone the power utility was coerced to donate $20 000.

Prospective companies bidding to install smart meters have not been spared with Deputy Minister Mutezo using his conduit and Zesa metering manager, Eng Leonard Chisina to demand kickbacks from them.

Minister Mavhaire said he was not consulted on most donations that went to Manicaland province.

“I was only informed on the donations that went towards the main congress and those traditional events which Zesa has been supporting as part of the corporate social responsibility. Anything other than that was done without my knowledge,” he said.

Deputy Minister Mutezo’s wife Loveness was provincial chair for the Women’s League in Manicaland.

On August 4 and 5, Zesa was made to release $20 000 towards preparations of the Youths and Women’s League conference in the province which were marred by vote buying.

On July 30, the power utility had been made to pay $40 000 towards a fundraising dinner. The money was withdrawn by Cde Joyline Porusingazi, who is wife to suspended central committee member and Chipinge South MP, Cde Enock Porusingazi, and Cde Pedigree Matara. Cde Matara, who was secretary for finance, has since appeared in court facing fraud charges and was remanded to December 15.

On August 4, Zesa was instructed to pay Chief Makoni $1 000 for unknown reasons while on October 22, $13 000 went towards the reburial of fallen freedom fighters in Rusape.

The money went into the Zanu-PF Manicaland account were Cde Matara was the secretary for finance and never reached FHTZ.

Fallen Heroes Trust of Zimbabwe chairperson Cde George Rutanhire yesterday said the association was unaware of any contributions from Zesa.

“I do not know about any money that came from Zesa unless they used it for other purposes unknown to us,” he said.

On October 1, Zesa was again made to pay $7 3 92 for accommodation and meals of Zanu-PF delegates that were booked at Hala Select Selous Hotel while in January, Zesa Enterprises deposited $525 towards Eng Mutezo’s victory celebrations in Chimanimani West. Between April and July, over $5 000 went towards the hiring of buses, PA system and accommodation, expenses incurred by the Deputy Minister.

Deputy Minister Mutezo has refused to talk to The Herald.

Zesa chief executive Eng Josh Chifamba referred questions to the ministry. “We have availed the minister with information,” he said.

It has also emerged that Deputy Minister Mutezo is in the habit of demanding fuel from enterprises under his ministry for activities in his constituency.

Recently, he made a request of 2 000 litres from the National Oil Infrastructure of Zimbabwe.

Said NOIC chief executive Mr Wilfred Matukeni: “Yes, he approached us. He wrote to us demanding 2 000 litres and we turned it down because it was for use in his constituency.”

Ministry of Energy and Zesa sources said Deputy Minister Mutezo had unfettered power to give instructions to parastatals under his portfolio.

“Mukorokoza chaiye murume uye,” said one source.

“He digs everywhere to get resources. Ask every managing director of our subsidiaries and you will see that no one has not been approached. Those wishing to install smart meters have been approached through his relative Engineer Chisina whom he promoted unprocedurally. Some have paid him in a bid to land the contract. He was promoted without interviews for such an executive post simply because the Deputy Minister had threatened management.”

Mr Chisina yesterday refused to disclose how he had been promoted.

“I am not the best person to answer that one. As for receiving money, I have never approached any company. It is not possible to do that.”

Another source said if left unabated, Eng Mutezo would paralyse all parastatals under his portfolio.

Zimbabweans have called for the arrest of Eng Mutezo for abusing public funds.