Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Joel Biggie Matiza, has with immediate effect suspended Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe Chief Executive Officer, David Chawota.
Matiza said Chawota was suspended because he has a case before the courts. Said Matiza:
Yes we have suspended him, remember he is before the courts and we want those processes to be cleared first.
Chawota appeared in court on Wednesday facing criminal abuse of office charges after he allegedly violated tender procedures. Chawota awarded a US$33 million contract to a company he handpicked despite contrary advice from government. The court heard that sometime in May 2013, Chawota initiated a tender process for the air traffic control system through floating of tenders. The tenders were for supply delivery and installation of air traffic control, Radar Surveillance System, supply delivered and installation of navigation aid system, supply delivery of air traffic control communications systems and supply delivery of air traffic control training simulator.
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