Minister grilled over $5 million controversially advanced to Sir Wicknell for Gwanda Solar Project

Energy minister Samuel Undenge was yesterday taken to task by legislators over the $5 million controversially advanced to businessman, Wicknell Chivayo, whose company, Intratek Zimbabwe was awarded the multi-million dollar Gwanda solar project under unclear circumstances.

The matter was raised by Norton MP Temba Mliswa during the on-going 2018 budget seminar in Victoria Falls who demanded to know why Chivayo was given the money and no progress has happened. Said Undenge:

The tender for the Gwanda Solar Power project was awarded to a company owned by Wicknell Chivayo (Intratek) and in the contract there was a provision for the payment of pre-commencement works, which was supposed to be paid to the company for topographical studies and feasibility studies. I don’t know how much was paid for the pre-commencement services such as topographical and feasibility studies. The Zimbabwe Power Company has taken over management of the project.

The Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, then directed the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy to investigate matter.

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