News / National
Zimbabwe Energy Minister acquitted
28 Jun 2011 at 13:46hrs | Views
The MDC-T Deputy Treasurer-General and Energy and Power Development Minister, Hon. Elton Mangoma was today acquitted of abusing public office when he assisted in the purchase of fuel to avert a national crisis.
Minister Elton Mangoma was arrested on Thursday 10 March 2011 on corruption charges relating to a botched $4.4 million fuel deal.
Mangoma, a member of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party in the coalition government, was picked up from his Chaminuka Building offices by detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Fraud Squad.
There were suspicions in government that Mangoma could have used his clout to influence the selection of NOOA Petroleum for the supply of five million litres of fuel in a deal consummated at the beginning of this year. Tender procedures were reportedly not followed and NOOA Petroleum was not even registered on the list of companies allowed to do business with government by the State Procurement Board (SPB).
The chairman of the procurrement board has publicly stated that the South African company was not among the companies registered to participate in government tenders, has already been interviewed by the police in connection with the case.
The $4,4 million paid to NOOA was for the purchase of five million litres of diesel for Matabeleland South province.
Mangoma sanctioned the purchase from the little-known South African petrol agent at the height of fuel problems in January.
NOOA Petroleum, in turn, contracted Mohwere Trading which sourced the fuel of Mozambique.
But only 1,5 million litres of diesel have been delivered to date - almost three months after the purchase of the fuel which should have been delivered in 48 hours in January.
Mangoma and NOOA Petroleum blamed natural causes for the delays in delivering the fuel.
Minister Elton Mangoma was arrested on Thursday 10 March 2011 on corruption charges relating to a botched $4.4 million fuel deal.
Mangoma, a member of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party in the coalition government, was picked up from his Chaminuka Building offices by detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Fraud Squad.
There were suspicions in government that Mangoma could have used his clout to influence the selection of NOOA Petroleum for the supply of five million litres of fuel in a deal consummated at the beginning of this year. Tender procedures were reportedly not followed and NOOA Petroleum was not even registered on the list of companies allowed to do business with government by the State Procurement Board (SPB).
The chairman of the procurrement board has publicly stated that the South African company was not among the companies registered to participate in government tenders, has already been interviewed by the police in connection with the case.
The $4,4 million paid to NOOA was for the purchase of five million litres of diesel for Matabeleland South province.
Mangoma sanctioned the purchase from the little-known South African petrol agent at the height of fuel problems in January.
NOOA Petroleum, in turn, contracted Mohwere Trading which sourced the fuel of Mozambique.
But only 1,5 million litres of diesel have been delivered to date - almost three months after the purchase of the fuel which should have been delivered in 48 hours in January.
Mangoma and NOOA Petroleum blamed natural causes for the delays in delivering the fuel.
Source - Byo24News
