4 Zimbabwe independent august 1 to 7, 2014 local nEWs Storm over ZPC solar tender hErbErt Moyo THE Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) tender for the construction of three solar power projects initially awarded to two Chinese companies and a local one owned by controversial Harare businessman, Wicknell Chivayo, has taken a new twist amid indications that the companies are pushing for an upward review of their winning bid of US$183 million to US$240 million. This has serious financial implications for ZPC, which will now have to fork out US$720 million for the three projects. Initially, the tender was just for one solar power plant to generate 100 megawatts of electricity and it was won by China Jiangxi Corporation (CJC) in January with a bid of US$183 million. However ZPC later brought in two losing bidders, namely Intratrek Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd owned by Chivayo and ZTE Corporation to construct another two plants at the same cost of US$183 million. The three companies are now said to be demanding that the State Procurement Board (SPB) reviews their contracts upwards claiming that it is not feasible to implement the projects for US$183 million — a development SPB sources say has resulted in the board advising all three companies to re-tender, and only one of them will build all three projects. “The SPB has decided that the three companies re-tender and the one which will submit the lowest bid will win the right to build all three plants,” said an SPB source. The sources, however, questioned why only the three companies are being asked to tender instead of opening up the process to all companies as required by the law. The re-tender proposals are the latest in a series of controversies rocking the solar project. In May, government sources told the Zimbabwe Independent that due to political interference ZPC was forced to bring in Intratrek Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd and ZTE Corporation through the back door without re-advertising the tender as required at law. Intratrek and ZTE were among more than 100 companies who responded to ZPC’s tender for engineering, procurement and construction of a 100 megawatt solar plant in Gwanda or Plumtree in Matabeleland South province. Despite being shortlisted, the companies eventually lost out to CJC after the SPB adjudged on January 16 that CJC had proposed a competitive bid. Intratrek’s bid was pegged at US$248 million while ZTE’s was US$358 million. Sources say despite losing out in the tendering process, the two companies were given a second bite of the cherry on condition that they reduced their quotation to match the US$183 million put forward by CJC. Official documents seen by this newspaper revealed that “political interference bordering on corruption which saw ZTE and Intratrek also being awarded similar 100MW solar power plant projects has created a huge nightmare for ZPC which is already confronted by serious financial challenges for project sponsorship”. ZPC spokesperson Fadzai Chisveto and SPB executive chairman Charles Kuwaza did not respond to questions emailed to them. Contacted for comment, Chivayo said “SPB regulations bind us to strict confidentiality”. He however advised this paper to “do further research from the relevant authorities in order to give a more accurate, credible version of events”. US extends elephant ban Wongai ZhangaZha THE United States government has extended its ban on the importation of sport-hunted elephant trophies from Zimbabwe to December 2014, which could have a devastating impact on the viability of the safari industry. The extension of the ban comes after Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe (Soaz) chairperson Emmanuel Fundira led a delegation to the United States in May to try and have the decision withdrawn. The delegation met various government officials including Secretary of State John Kerry. The delegation comprised Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority director-general Edson Chidziya, Campfire director Charles Jonga, Zimbabwean Professional Hunters and Guides Association chairman Louis Muller and wildlife consultant Rowan Martin. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in April announced a suspension on imports of sport-hunted African elephant trophies from Tanzania and Zimbabwe, arguing that available data showed a significant decline in the elephant population. In an interview on Wednesday Fundira said Elias MaMbo/Wongai ZhangaZha PREPARATIONS for the 34th Sadc Summit to be held in Victoria Falls are at an advanced stage with the cash-strapped government banking on financial support from the private and corporate sectors. The Sadc summit will kick off on August 8-9 with a finance subcommittee meeting, followed by a standing committee meeting of senior officials including the finance committee on August 10- 12, a council of ministers meeting on August 14-15, and finally the Summit of Heads of State and Governments on August 17 and 18. Investigations by the Zimbabwe Independent revealed that the government is hiring a 30x60m airconditioned tent from a prominent event management company which specialises in rental equipment. Investigations suggested hiring the tent for three days costs US$86 000 and accommodation at the Elephant Hills resort has already been secured for 700 high the extension was shocking as it would seriously affect the tourism sector as well as employment in a country already burdened by a 90% unemployment rate. He said: “The announcement of the extension of the ban to December came on Monday and is extremely depressing. For example the ban would affect 65% of the market which is in from the America including North and South America. That itself shows the collapse of the industry.” “The effect is also horrendous as 800 000 households under the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (Campfire) are affected at a time employment levels in the country are poor.” In their petition lobbying for the lifting of the ban, the delegation questioned the benchmark used by USFWS to define the elephant decline. “Zimbabwe can support at most about 50 000 elephants on the land available in the country. The effects of exceeding the ecological carrying capacity for elephants are glaringly evident — habitats are being destroyed, carrying capacity for wildlife in general is being reduced and elephants are dying of poverty. An ecological disaster is imminent,” the delegation argued. “The statement by the USFWS that additional killing of elephants in these countries, even if legal, is not sustainable and is not currently supporting conservation efforts that contribute towards the recovery of the species demonstrates an ignorance of the biological impact of trophy hunting. Quotas for trophy hunting are negligible in biological terms and have no effect on the rate of increase of elephant populations.” Fundira said the there was lack of scientific information to convince USFWS that the country’s elephants are not threatened hence the best way forward for the organisation was to extend the ban until December. “We are however in the process of lobbying further and the minister responsible for this sector (Minister of Environment Saviour Kasukuwere) has called for an indaba on this new information,” he said. Defending the ban, the USFWS said they were concerned by anecdotal evidence, such as the widely publicised poisoning last year of 300 elephants in Hwange National Park, suggesting that the country’s elephants are under siege. “Given the current situation on the ground in both Tanzania and Zimbabwe, the Service is unable to US$86 000 tent for Sadc summit level delegates expected to attend the Sadc Heads of State and Government Summit. A source at the Elephant Hills Resort last week said there were tensions between government and the hotel concerning the bookings as the state initially wanted the hotel to stop taking clients for August. “Government had said the hotel should not provide accommodation services for the month of August yet it has not even paid for its delegates,” said the source. “The hotel is now using only 500 rooms because the other rooms are being renovated so some of the delegates have been booked in other hotels,” he said. A fortnight ago Foreign Affairs minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi said government would seek funding from the corporate sector. “Everything is on course and the corporate sector has been very cooperative and supportive so far in the preparation,” he said. Meanwhile as President Robert Mugabe’s takeover of the chairship of Sadc nears, concerns have been raised on tensions between Botswana and Zimbabwe following Botswana’s attack on Mugabe’s presidential victory in last year’s elections. Botswana President Ian Khama, regarded as sympathetic to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, said there was need for an independent audit of the elections following allegations of Zanu PF vote rigging. Botswana, which sent an 80-member observer team led by the country’s former Vice-President Lieutenant General Mompati Merafhe, cited numerous incidents which discredited the polls. Botswana was the only Sadc country that gave a damning report on the elections. However deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chris Mutsvangwa, speaking on the sidelines of a tour of the Norton Special Economic Zones last week which he organised for ambassadors as Norton legislator said there were no tensions between Botswana and Zimbabwe. The USFWS says elephants are under siege make positive findings required under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the Endangered Species Act to allow import of elephant trophies from these countries,” read the statement. BATTLE lines have been drawn between a faction loyal to Vice- President Joice Mujuru and politburo member Saviour Kasukuwere ahead of the Mashonaland Central youth provincial congress to be held in Bindura over the weekend. The faction aligned to Kasukuwere received a boost ahead of the congress after the Zanu PF politburo on Wednesday recommended that former secretary for administration Kudakwashe Sintu, who was suspended in June by the Mashonaland Central provincial executive for indiscipline together with provincial chairperson Godfrey Tsenengamu, and youth executive member Caleb Karima, be allowed to contest elections for entry into the national youth executive. Sintu’s suspension meant that he missed the competitive district elections held on Wednesday. The highlight of the district elections saw Dugmore Chimukoko, who controversially lost “Additional killing of elephants in these countries, even if legal, is not sustainable and is not currently supporting conservation efforts that contribute towards the recovery of the species.” Zanu PF battle lines drawn in Mash Central the provincial youth chairperson elections last year after police undercounted his ballots, narrowly beat deputy minister Tabeth Kanengoni by 32 votes to 30 in Mazowe. Chimukoko is reportedly aligned to Mujuru. There was also joy for Obert Mutasa in Guruve who beat Takawira Maluku by 26 votes to 19 while in Bindura Ratidza Marumahoko beat Helen Mashonganyika by 16 votes to 10. Three candidates were uncontested — Paulet Chekumanyara in Rushinga, Tongai Kasukuwere of Mt Darwin and Joseph Dendere in Muzarabani. An official in the Mashonaland Central provincial executive said by virtue of being the only woman elected at district level, Chekumanyara had made it into the national executive. Chimukoko, Mutasa, Marumahoko and Dendere who are said to be loyal to Mujuru, as well as Kasukuwere and Sintu, will battle it out for the remaining three slots. — Staff Writer.
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