by Stan Dongo, Zimbabwe, 17 March, 1997
THEME = ECONOMY
The saga began last year when President Mugabe intervened in the Government Tender Board decision to award a Swedish company, Ericsson, recommended by the Posts and Telecommunications, the tender to operate the government's Net One Cellular Network. The contract eventually went to Siemens International of Germany.
The nullification of Ericsson's tender, raised eyebrows among local firms in the cellular technology industry, and protests in international circles, including the United States, which complained about lack of transparency on the part of the government.
Tenders for the Hwange Thermal Power Station (the coal plant generating electricity to supplement Zimbabwe's electricity supply) were turned down by President Mugabe, who vehemently cancelled the tender board's decision to shortlist six European and American companies. He awarded the tender to a Malaysian company, YTL, which was at the bottom of the list. YTL now has a 51% stake in Hwange.
Local electricity experts argued that the Malaysian company was not the best when compared to some western companies. And because of increasing opposition to the President's choices, the entire GTB was fired and Mr.Mugabe appointed new members.
Then there's the case of Vice-President Joshua Nkomo who has threatened to resign in what became known as the "Masiyiwa Affair". The Vice-President gave clear instructions to the Minister of Information, Mrs.Joyce Mujuru, to award local businessman, Mr.Strive Masiyiwa, a licence to operate a cellular phone project.
The Minister did exactly the opposite and awarded the tender this month to Zairian-based Telecel in clear disregard to Mr.Nkomo's instruction which he gave in his capacity as acting president while Mr.Mugabe was on leave.
Masiyiwa was the first black Zimbabwean to acquire and assemble modern equipment, to launch the first cellular telephone service after his visit to Germany in 1992.
The government was caught unawares, as Masiyiwa with his Enhanced Communication Network (ECONET) company, started putting pressure on the authorities for an operating licence. Dr.Nkomo, a veteran nationalist, has publicly aired his anger over the junior minister's apparent defiance of his instruction. Mrs.Joyce Mujuru swore she did not see the directive and had to go ahead with "what the cabinet had earlier agreed upon". She continued: "I want to tell the nation that I am a trained army person. I understand orders. I am disciplined when it comes to orders. The procedure I took in awarding the tender, followed on what was came from the cabinet office and from the President".
Needless to say, Dr.Nkomo was furious. He said: "We don't do things like that in this country".
Meanwhile, Mr.Mugabe in France told reporters that his government was going to participate in the cellular telephone business. "It's a sensitive industry and we cannot afford to be intimidated by anyone".
Analysts say Mr.Mugabe's reaction is a clear rebuff to Dr.Nkomo who abandoned the leadership of his Patriotic Front-Zimbabwe African People's Union party, to form a government of national unity with Mr Mugabe in 1987.
And a final example of "presidential interference". Leo Mugabe is President Mugabe's nephew. He has just won a tender to build the new Harare International Airport whose foundation stone was laid by the President. Work is expected to start soon.
END