Wicknell Chivayo's power tender cancelled?

The Gwanda solar project has been taken over by the Zimbabwe Power Company after Wicknell Chivayo's firm failed to deliver.

Energy Minister, Samuel Undenge told parliamentarians in Vic Falls that Chivayo's Intratek Zimbabwe was paid over $5 million. Chivayo was awarded the tender for the $202 million 100MW Gwanda Solar project in October 2015. The project remains in limbo to date.

"The tender for the Gwanda Solar Power project was awarded to a company owned by Wicknell Chivayo (Intratek) and in the contract there was a provision for the payment of pre-commencement works, which was supposed to be paid to the company for topographical studies and feasibility studies.

"I don't know how much was paid for the pre-commencement services such as topographical and feasibility studies. The Zimbabwe Power Company has taken over management of the project."

Undenge was grilled by legislators. "We need to know how the $5 million is going to be recovered from Intratek as there was no service done and the contract has been given to another company. Part of the $5 million was also paid to his (Dr Undenge's) personal account, let him account for the money," Norton MP, Mr Temba Mliswa (independent), said.