Former Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) board chairman Stanley
Kazhanje was yesterday slapped with an effective one-year jail term for
concealing a US$10 000 transaction he received from Wicknell Chivayo’s
Intratrek Zimbabwe.
Kazhanje was last week convicted after a full trial by
senior regional magistrate Mr Hosea Mujaya.
Mr Mujaya initially sentenced Kazhanje to three years in
jail before suspending two years on condition of good behaviour.
During aggravation, the State called its star witness,
former ZPC board member Ms Thandiwe Mhlobani, who stated that Kazhanje never
signed anything for the processing of the contract to Intratrek, but this was
done by management.
She told the court that she did not attend all the board
meetings. She further stated that Engineer Noah Gwariro, who was the
managing director of ZPC at that time, knew that Kazhanje had done some work
for Intratrek.
Prosecutor Mr Brian Vito told the court that Kazhanje
deserved jail time for the offence as a deterrent measure.
“Zimbabwe has an acute shortage of power and the 100
megawatts should have helped in alleviating the country’s power problems,” he
said.
Mr Vito further stated that the court should consider a
custodial sentence to meet the justice of the case.
“The seriousness of this offence should be taken in the
context of the fight against corruption in the country,” he said.
In passing judgment last week, Mr Mujaya said the State had
proven a prima facie case against Kazhanje.
Mujaya ruled that Kazhanje failed to submit evidence of
receipt of the money or the nature of work done by his company, Terminal
Engineering, at Intratek Zimbabwe.
Mr Mujaya said ZPC’s former corporate secretary, Saidi
Sangula, testified that Kazhanje disclosed his interests at Intratrek.
Mr Mujaya said even former Energy Minister Dzikamai
Mavhaire, who Kazhanje claimed to have declared his dealings with Intratrek to,
denied the claim. Herald
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