Business / Companies
Human resources director and Procurement manager fired due to a Telecel tender scandal
31 Jan 2011 at 19:40hrs | Views
The human resources director and dismissed the procurement manager of TELECEL Zimbabwe has been suspended following problems with a tender the firm awarded to South African companies.
Senior executives allegedly suspect that human resources director Mr Patrice Mazibuko and procurement manager Mr Sibangani Mabobe leaked to the Press details of a tender scam relating to the setting up of base stations.
Mr Mazibuko and Mr Mabobe are also allegedly suspected of releasing to the Press details of the firm's management structure, which is dominated by expatriates.
Telecel awarded South African firms Cosira Group and ACT tenders to set up 200 base stations countrywide at an estimated cost of US$28 million.
The two firms were reportedly contracted to do work that local firms such as Murray & Roberts, Hogarths and Zeco could do.. The SA firms would sub-contract local companies to do the same work.
The practice violates the indigenisation and economic empowerment regulations, which require a portion of procurement deals to be reserved for locals.
The latest development raises the lid on simmering tensions at the firm, which is dominated by expatriates in senior positions that locals could occupy.
Mr Aimable Mpore, born in Rwanda but now a Canadian citizen, is the chief executive and other senior executives include chief financial officer Mr Alexander Klier (Germany) and chief technical officer Mr Tobias Jack (Tanzania).
The chief commercial officer and the information technology director are, allegedly, also foreigners.
Efforts to get a comment from Mr Mpore were unsuccessful yesterday as he was said to be out of office. He was also not answering his mobile phone.
A spokesperson for the firm refused to comment insisting they could not do so without Mr Mpore's clearance.
Mr Mazibuko is allegedly suspected of releasing details of the US$28 million base stations tender deal that was awarded to the two South African firms.
Sources said Mazibuko's problems with senior executives started last year after he awarded contracts for the establishment of base stations to two local firms.
After that Mr Mazibuko, who joined Telecel in July last year, had his three months probation extended from September to December.
Telecel has since told him it will not employ him on a permanent basis. "You are hereby formally advised Telecel will not be confirming you as a permanent employee upon expiry of your extended probation period ending on the 31st of December 2010," read an excerpt of the letter written by Telecel
Senior executives allegedly suspect that human resources director Mr Patrice Mazibuko and procurement manager Mr Sibangani Mabobe leaked to the Press details of a tender scam relating to the setting up of base stations.
Mr Mazibuko and Mr Mabobe are also allegedly suspected of releasing to the Press details of the firm's management structure, which is dominated by expatriates.
Telecel awarded South African firms Cosira Group and ACT tenders to set up 200 base stations countrywide at an estimated cost of US$28 million.
The two firms were reportedly contracted to do work that local firms such as Murray & Roberts, Hogarths and Zeco could do.. The SA firms would sub-contract local companies to do the same work.
The practice violates the indigenisation and economic empowerment regulations, which require a portion of procurement deals to be reserved for locals.
The latest development raises the lid on simmering tensions at the firm, which is dominated by expatriates in senior positions that locals could occupy.
Mr Aimable Mpore, born in Rwanda but now a Canadian citizen, is the chief executive and other senior executives include chief financial officer Mr Alexander Klier (Germany) and chief technical officer Mr Tobias Jack (Tanzania).
The chief commercial officer and the information technology director are, allegedly, also foreigners.
Efforts to get a comment from Mr Mpore were unsuccessful yesterday as he was said to be out of office. He was also not answering his mobile phone.
A spokesperson for the firm refused to comment insisting they could not do so without Mr Mpore's clearance.
Mr Mazibuko is allegedly suspected of releasing details of the US$28 million base stations tender deal that was awarded to the two South African firms.
Sources said Mazibuko's problems with senior executives started last year after he awarded contracts for the establishment of base stations to two local firms.
After that Mr Mazibuko, who joined Telecel in July last year, had his three months probation extended from September to December.
Telecel has since told him it will not employ him on a permanent basis. "You are hereby formally advised Telecel will not be confirming you as a permanent employee upon expiry of your extended probation period ending on the 31st of December 2010," read an excerpt of the letter written by Telecel
Source - Byo24NEWS
