Welshman Ncube took Zisco bribes, MP’s claim

By Staff Reporter

Welshman Ncube the leader of the smaller MDC faction is being accused of receiving bribes to facilitate the US$750 million takeover of Kwekwe-based steel giant Ziscosteel by Indian company Essar Holdings.

On Tuesday both MDC-T and Zanu PF MP’s called for a commission of inquiry to investigate the way the Industry and Commerce minister handled the deal. The allegations are contained in a report by the Industry and Commerce parliamentary portfolio committee.

The Committee chaired by Buhera North MP (Zanu PF) William Mutomba 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.

Simon Hove, the MDC-T MP for Highfield 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 will be creating ghost towns around the country,” Hove said.

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

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.