MDC-T, Zanu-PF MPs gang against Welshman Ncube

Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC-T and Zanu-PF MPs yesterday called for a commission of inquiry to investigate the way Industry and Commerce minister Welshman Ncube handled the Ziscosteel takeover by Indian company Essar Holdings.

The MPs claimed Ncube received bribes to facilitate the $750 million takeover of the Kwekwe based steel giant. This follows the presentation of a report by the chairperson of the Industry and Commerce parliamentary portfolio committee and Buhera North MP (Zanu-PF) William Mutomba in the House of Assembly, alleging irregularities in the deal.

Mutomba's report claimed that Ncube signed an agreement where names of some government ministries were wrongly spelt.

The report alleges that this backed MPs' suspicion that the deal was dictated to Ncube by the Indians.

Highfield MP Simon Hove (MDC-T) said the committee discovered that the minister did not consult Zisco directors when he negotiated the deal.

"Even today money released from the sale of ore from Buchwa Mine, which was supposed to be deposited into the Ziscosteel account, was put directly into the minister's account," he said.

Hove said, giving Essar 80% shares in Zisco would allow the Indian company to export all the ore without benefiting the country.

Another portfolio coommittee member, Bindura South MP Bednock Nyaude (MDC-T), said the deal was "clumsy and vague."

Kambuzuma MP Willias Madzimure (MDC-T) claimed Essar bribed people to clinch the deal.

"If the Executive was not compromised when they commissioned the Essar deal, it's within its right to renegotiate another deal,: he said.

"There was inducement for the deal to be concluded. Anyone who says there was no exchange of money will be lying."

Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya (MDC-T) said there was need for the deal to be renegotiated for the alleviation of the plight of the workers whose lifeline was cut after Essar suspended payment of salaries owing to the confusion.

Cabinet endorsed the deal in June.

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