Former managing director of Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) Noah Gwariro yesterday said former Energy Minister Samuel Undenge gave the directive to pay Intratek for the pre-commencement of the Gwanda solar power plant project without a bank guarantee.
Gwariro said he only signed the contract at Undenge’s directive. Said Gwariro:
I notified the accused that the contractor (Intratek) had not provided the bank guarantee which is to safeguard the company in case the contractor fails to deliver. He was also aware that the contractor wanted to be paid for the pre-commencement work before starting the project. He said he would get back to me after consulting his principal in Cabinet, and after a few days he came back to me through a phone call saying I should proceed to make the payment so the project could proceed. I only acted on his directive.
However Undenge’s lawyer Mr Muchadehama said Gwariro was framing his client because he does not want to face trial. Muchadehama said Gwariro was a co-accused when the matter was brought in by the police. He also claims that Gwariro was suspended from his position by the ZPC board because he had made the payments to Intratek without their approval.
More: Herald
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