Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) MDC-T, Zanu PF MPs claim Ncube took Essar bribe

MDC-T, Zanu PF MPs claim Ncube took Essar bribe
05/09/2012 00:00:00
by Everson Mushava I NewsDay

MDC-T and Zanu PF MPs on Tuesday called for a commission of inquiry to investigate the way Industry and Commerce Minister Welshman Ncube handled the Ziscosteel takeover by Indian company, Essar Holdings.

The MPs claimed Ncube, who leads the other MDC formation, received bribes to facilitate the $750 million takeover of the Kwekwe-based steel giant.

This followed the presentation of a report by the chairperson of the Industry and Commerce parliamentary portfolio committee and Buhera North MP William Mutomba (Zanu PF) in the House of Assembly, alleging irregularities in the deal.

Mutomba’s report claimed that Ncube signed an agreement where names of some government ministries were wrongly spelt.

The report alleges this backed MPs’ suspicion that the deal was dictated to Ncube by the Indians.

Highfield MP Simon Hove (MDC-T) said the committee discovered that the minister did not consult Zisco directors when he negotiated the deal.

“Even today, money realised from the sale of ore from Buchwa Mine, which was supposed to be deposited into the Ziscosteel account, was put directly into the ministry’s account,” he said.

“We will pursue the matter to see if the money was deposited into the Zisco account.

“We cannot choose to be silent when a transgression is committed, otherwise we would be creating ghost towns around the country.”

Hove said giving Essar 80% shares in Zisco would allow the Indian company to export all the ore without benefiting the country.

“Why does the minister involve himself in the affairs of Ziscosteel when workers have gone for months without salaries?

“No wonder why one of the actors is busy dishing out bicycles and cattle at his campaign rallies,” he said.

Another portfolio committee member, Bindura South MP Bednock Nyaude (MDC-T), said the deal was “clumsy and vague”.

Kambuzuma MP Willias Madzimure (MDC-T) claimed Essar bribed people to clinch the deal.

“If the Executive was not compromised when they commissioned the Essar deal, it’s within its right to renegotiate another deal,” he said.

“There was inducement for the deal to be concluded. Anyone who says there was no exchange of money will be lying.”

Mbizo MP Settlement Chikwinya (MDC-T) said there was need for the deal to be renegotiated for the alleviation of the plight of workers whose lifeline was cut after Essar suspended payment of salaries owing to the confusion.

Cabinet in June endorsed the Essar deal.

Labels: ESSAR AFRICA HOLDINGS, WELSHMAN NCUBE

posted by MrK @ 4:20 PM