Zimpapers Logo

fresh charges of criminal abuse of office for allegedly flouting State tender procedures.
He will spend the weekend in jail after his lawyer, Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, yesterday said they would launch a bail application in the High Court next week,
Mangoma’s arrest comes barely two weeks after he appeared in court facing criminal abuse of office charges involving a US$6 million fuel procurement deal.
According to the new indictment, Mangoma cancelled a tender for the supply and delivery to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company of a pre-payment revenue management system, meters and associated equipment.
The State alleges that his actions prejudiced nine companies that had participated in the tender process.
Mangoma appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Jarabini and was indicted to face trial at the High Court on July 18 this year.
Once a suspect is indicted for trial at the High Court, he/she is remanded in custody and can apply for bail pending trial.
Ms Mtetwa yesterday told the court that Mangoma’s arrest was unprocedural and was an abuse of the court system.
The arrest, she submitted, was political and a ploy to prevent her client from participating in a vote for the House of Assembly Speaker.
Chief Law Officer Mr Chris Mutangadura alleges that sometime in May last year, ZETDC invited tenders for the supply and delivery of a prepayment revenue management system, meters and associated equip- ment.
The closing date was June 29, 2010 with Denallare Technologies, Palo Holdings (SA), Solahart Zimbabwe, Kithra Enterprises, Merlin Gerlin (SA), GEC Zimbabwe, Palace Power Systems (SA), Landis and Gyr (SA), and Cerany Investments taking part.
On July 19, after adjudication, ZETDC sent the tender documents to the State Procurement Board for it to award its recommended bidder who in this case was Landis and Gyr.
It is alleged that when the board delayed in announcing the successful bid, Engineer Ben Rafemoyo – the then Zesa chief executive – approached the Secretary for Energy, Mr Justin Mupamhanga, over the matter.
Mr Mupamhanga wrote to State Procurement Board chairman Mr Charles Kuwaza asking them to announce the winner to expedite implementation of the project in the public interest.
Mangoma, on August 20 last year, allegedly wrote to Zesa board chairman, Dr Noah Madziva, saying no further action should be taken on the tender.
The letter was copied to several people, says the State.
Mr Kuwaza sought clarification from Mangoma on the contradictory letters, it is alleged.
Sometime in September 2010, Eng Rafemoyo allegedly advised Mr Kuwaza to cancel the tender.
On September 30 the board met to deliberate on the tender and tasked one Mr Atkins Mandaza to ask Eng Rafemoyo what was happening.
Eng Rafemoyo allegedly confirmed the minister’s instruction to cancel the tender.