Kasukuwere grilled over Brainworks scandal
By Chengetayi Zvauya
HARARE – Parliament on Wednesday grilled Savior Kasukuwere, Youth, Development and Indigenisation minister, over alleged illegal indigenisation deals involving Brainworks Capital, a private firm which stitched deals on behalf of government without going to tender.
Kasukuwere was also questioned on his ministry’s fight with the Zimbabwe Anti-corruption Commission (ZACC).
MDC MP for Mazowe Central Constituency Sherperd Mushonga fielded the question in the august House on Wednesday to Kasukuwere demanding an explanation on what had transpired in the indigenisation deal that is now referred to as the Nieebgate Scandal.
Brainworks was recruited by the National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board (Nieeb) and the Indigenisation ministry as financial consultant for several indigenisation deals including a $971 million deal with Zimbabwe Platinum Mines Limited (Zimplats).
Brainworks also worked as financial advisors on the indigenisation of six other top earning companies which have or are being indigenised.
Mushonga asked: “Can the minister advice this august House about the Brainworks Consultancy and why he resisted the anti-corruption commission when it visited his office and he ran away. Does he have some skeletons to hide in cupboard?”
Kasukuwere replied that he had nothing to hide from the anti-corruption commission, and stressed that he had not run away.
He said he did everything above board.
“Brainworks were advising government in the indigenisation transaction. The anti-corruption commission had defective search warrants which they had corruptly obtained and they have dirty hands. The commission had an agenda to derail the indigenisation programme,” said Kasukuwere.
He was supported by Zanu PF MPs who shouted on top of their voices in defence of Kasukuwere.
Kasukuwere said they will be no reversal to the indigenisation programme and blamed the MDC for trying to reverse the programme which he said empowered disadvantaged people.
In March, Zacc officers wanted to search for documents in the offices of the National Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board (Nieeb) Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) and the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) armed with High Court papers. They were however, barred from searching the offices.
Zacc claimed it had reasonable grounds to suspect that therewas abuse of duty by public officers in the three bodies.
Nieeb has been in the limelight over alleged corruption in indigenisation transactions involving particularly the $971 million Zimplats deal.
However, the search was stopped by a High Court order issued by Judge President George Chiweshe after the respective ministries approached the court seeking protection. Daily News
