New Twist To Wicknell Chivhayo's Gwanda Solar Project Case

Emerging information suggests that Wicknell Chivhayo could have misled the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) into making payments for earthmoving equipment worth US$800 000 to a non-existent US firm.

However, the report on April 26, 2016, shows that Intratrek got central bank authority to load US$849,475 on their VISA card to purchase the earth moving equipment from a USA based equipment supplier, Pietznack Plant and Earthmoving Services. The report reads:

A Google search on the supplier revealed that the address on the invoice for the earthmoving equipment was an unoccupied block of residential flats.

These advance payments were made to the contractor without the knowledge of the company secretary’s office which administers all contracts. The board was also not aware that Intratrek had been paid without an Advance Payment Guarantee.

Chivhayo’s Intratrek Zimbabwe Private Ltd was paid a total of US$5,6m for designs and feasibility study, and pre-commencement works and in terms of the contract, Intratrek was obligated to provide an Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) against advance payments made by ZPC and this was not done. The report further reads:

Chivhayo dismissed the report saying it was based on speculation. He said:

That’s why the High Court acquitted me on 22 March and granted specific performance on 18 December. No one travelled to America to visit that company. It was mere speculation and conjecture.

More: Business Times