$4 million 'murky deal' haunts minister

President Robert Mugabe has been briefed about Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) minister Supa Mandiwanzira's alleged involvement in an alleged murky deal where struggling mobile operator NetOne shelled $4 million to a South African firm without going to tender.

Mandiwanzira, who is accused by some NetOne executives of nepotism and interference in the operations of the mobile phone operator, is accused of engaging Megawatt Energy - a Chinese run consulting linked to him - to investigate a deal between NetOne and Chinese firm Huawei without going to tender.  

According to a report authored by former NetOne CEO Reward Kangai for Mugabe and obtained by this paper last week, the minister engaged Megawatt Energy to investigate prices of goods and services paid for through a $218 million loan facility from China Exim Bank by Huawei.  

The minister allegedly told NetOne to pay a staggering $4 million for services that other companies could have billed for a meagre $300 000.  

According to documents at hand, the minister solely engaged Megawatt Energy, fronted by Xiaodong Li, to carry out an audit of the loan deal without involving NetOne management or the board. Mandiwanzira has been linked to the South African company.