Energy and Power Development Minister instructs ZESA to drop Wicknell Chivayo fraud charges

Energy and Power Development, Minister Fortune Chasi has instructed ZESA Holdings to drop all fraud charges against socialite and controvesial businessman Wicknell Chivayo rather the power utility company should work with him instead. Chivayo is facing charges of defrauding ZESA Holdings of US$ 5.6 million.

The controversial businessman is alleged to have received the money from ZESA as an advance payment to be used in construction of US$200 million Gwanda Solar Project. However, inspite of the fact that he received the advance payment, Chivayo is yet to avail meaning progress on the contract he was awarded in 2015.The state alleges that he withdrew the money and converted it to his personal use. The Supreme Court has since ruled that Chivayo has a case to answer and overturned a decision by the High Court to acquit Chivayo on all charges.

However, before the Supreme Court had delivered its ruling on Wicknell Chivayo’s case, Honorable Chasi wrote to ZESA on May 26 instructing them to drop all charges against Chivayo rather he ordered them to work with him on the Gwanda Solar Power Project.

Wicknell Chivayo has since appointed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s long time lawyer Edwin Manikai as his Chief Legal Advisor.Currently, Manikai is the chair of President Mnangagwa’s Presidential Advisory Council(PAC). Chivayo also appointed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s prominent longtime lawyer Wilson Manase as executive chairman of Intratek.

These appointments were also referenced in the letter from Chasi to Gata(ZESA Chairman), and it appeared to place huge importance on the two lawyers inclusion.

“The government took note of the involvement of high -ranking professionals who now constitute the restructured Intratek board, Chasi wrote. “Of note, the Presidential Advisory Council chairman Edwin Manikai is leading the legal conscription of the proposed financial and technical variation of the project through Dube, Manikai and Hwacha Legal practitioners… The key role of that law firm and Mr Manikai in particular in the new arrangement speaks volumes on the integrity, professionalism and experience placed into the project, with the government concurring that all previous loopholes would subsequently be forestalled and plugged.”

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