PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s anti-corruption unit has reportedly
opened investigations into former President Robert Mugabe’s son-in-law,
Simba Chikore’s involvement in the botched ZimAirways deal, NewsDay can
reveal.
Highly-placed sources told NewsDay last week that Chikore, married to
Mugabe’s daughter, Bona, is the subject of an investigation over his
involvement in the purchase of aircraft under a ZimAirways deal.
“He (Chikore) is being investigated for his role in the deal, but it
seems the whole issue could suck in Mugabe himself or better still, his
wife (former First Lady Grace). Chikore is said to have been engaged as a
consultant in the ZimAirways deal at a time he was employed as Air
Zimbabwe’s chief operating officer.
Monday 17 September 2018
SIMBA CHIKORE UNDER PROBE
“You will remember that deal was supposed to be part of the
resuscitation of the national airline, but it was later revealed that
ZimAirways was part of a private company owned by individuals. It is an
intricate web that we are trying to understand,” the source close to the
investigation said.
Thabani Mpofu, who heads Mnangagwa’s anti-graft unit, was
not available for comment.
Transport ministry secretary George Mlilo referred
questions to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc).
“Zacc have all the information. Talk to them. But I can
confirm that we are aware that the planes are owned by the government,” he
said.
Zacc commissioner in charge of investigations Goodson Nguni
confirmed the anti-graft body has a report on the matter.
“Indeed, we have received a complaint regarding that issue
and we are investigating it. I cannot say much at the moment suffice to say it
is alleged he employed people without permits and that he (Chikore) has been
purporting to work for the government of Zimbabwe, but does not have a contract
yet he exercised executive power at ZimAirways,” Nguni said, adding information
available showed that the shadowy airline is a government entity.
Former Transport minister Joram Gumbo early this year
confirmed that Chikore was a consultant at ZimAirways, but indicated that the
latter only got involved after he resigned from Air Zimbabwe.
Information gathered shows that Chikore negotiated on
behalf of the local company in the deal that involved the purchase of aircraft
from Malaysia.
The Malaysian government had reportedly grounded the MH
series after two major incidents in 2014.
Zimbabwe, looking to jump-start a struggling national flag
carrier, offered to buy the planes, triggering a scandal that might have
prejudiced the country of millions of dollars.
“From what has been gathered thus far, the government on
behalf of a private entity the Zimbabwe Aviation Leasing Company, paid about
$110 million, but only $50 million was received by the Malay authorities,”
another source said.
Harare lawyer Phillipa Philips, who has represented Chikore
in the past said she had since stopped doing so over what she said were
integrity issues.
“I have heard he is being investigated, but I no longer
represent him,” Philips said.
Asked to elaborate on why their relationship broke down,
Philips suggested Chikore was an “imposter.”
“He keeps insisting he is a captain, but has never shown or
proven that he is one. Those that worked with him at Air Zimbabwe and Qatar
Airways say he never qualified. These issues of integrity, I value very much
and he seems to think he can do anything because he is politically connected,”
the lawyer said. Newsday
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