Another Mavhaire, Mutezo deal exposed

Ousted Energy and Power Development Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire and his deputy Engineer Munacho Mutezo, pushed Zesa Holdings to tender 300 000 smart meters for non-existing properties, raising suspicion that the pair was angling to financially benefit from the deal.

It has also emerged that there are not more than 80 000 points countrywide that require smart meters and Zesa management is now contemplating reducing the quantities or cancelling the $120 million tender.

More than 227 companies have already bought tender documents for the project and the tender closes next month.

Only five companies will be shortlisted.

Some of the prospective companies (names supplied) had reportedly paid kickbacks to one of the ministers who were last week fired from Government for spending their time on graft and factional politics - for them to get the tender.

Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution company managing director Engineer Julian Chinembiri, yesterday said the 300 000 smart meters did not tally with the points on the ground.

He said smart meters were ideal mostly in industrial areas, points that had a significant load of around 1 000kWh per month.