President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday ordered the reinstatement of the ZESA Board before ZACC finalised its investigation into their alleged corruption, The Herald reports.
This was revealed in a circular that stated that Sydney Gata had been reinstated after being cleared of all corruption charges levelled against him. In the memo, Dr Musheck Sibanda Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet said:
That the board members also continue in their positions until the finalisation of the investigations. Besides investigating the six allegations against Dr Gata and unspecified allegations against the board members, Zacc also looked into the Intratek Gwanda solar project, the Mutare peaking plant project, the conduct of the former Energy Minister Advocate Fortune Chasi in his dealings with Zesa and conduct of ministry officials in their dealings with Zesa
On the way forward after the controversial reinstatement, Sibanda’s statement said the new energy minister Zhemu Soda should make his own assessment and present his recommendations to the president by 30 November:
That the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Zhemu Soda, should examine corporate governance issues that have been raised in the Zacc interim report and present his recommendations on the same to His Excellency the President by November 30, 2020.
ED in ordering the reinstatement said ZESA was at the epicentre of Zimbabwe’s Economy and it could not operate below optimal efficiency. Gata was suspended on allegations of corruption which includes authorising the payment ghost workers
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