Former Information Communication Technology and Cyber Security Minister and also the Member of Parliament for Nyanga South, Supa Mandiwanzira has been granted $2000 bail pending trial commencing on the 21st of November on charges of criminal abuse of office.
The politician was ordered by the Chief Magistrate Mr Mishrod Guvamombe to provide surety in the form of title deeds which amounts to $100 000. He was further advised to surrender his travel documents to the clerk of court and to continue staying at his given address. Mr Mandiwanzira is to report twice a week at Borrowdale Police Station in Harare.
Mr Mandiwanzira allegedly engaged the services of a South African company called Megawatt Private Limited at NetOne without going to tender while he was a Cabinet Minister. Megawatt was hired to review prices charged by a Chinese firm, Huawei Technologies, for the supply of network expansion and modernisation equipment to NetOne.Of the fees charged, Megawatt successfully negotiated for a reduction of $30 million. After the negotiations, Mandiwanzira instructed then NetOne chief executive officer Mr Reward Kangai and some board members to pay Megawatt $4 million. According to the State papers, $1 million was for consultancy while $3 million was termed “success fee”. However, NetOne declined to pay Megawatt arguing that tender procedures had not been followed. Investigations established that Mandiwanzira was a director in a company called, Blue Nightingale, which had shares in Megawatt.
The former minister is also being accused of irregularly appointing his personal assistant to be a board member for NetOne.
Mr Mandiwanzira was barred from interfering with the following five key State witness —Messrs Reward Kangai, Brian Mutandiro, Ozias Bvute, Alex Marufu and Dr Samuel Kundishora.