The Sunday Mail
Brian Chitemba Investigations Editor
Zimbabwe National Water Authority board chair (commercialisation) Mr Garikai Musikavanhu has been sacked for issuing desilting licences worth around US$1 million without approval. Information gathered by The Sunday Mail indicates Mr Musikavanhu got his marching orders from Environment, Water and Climate Secretary Mr Prince Mupazviriho in a letter dated August 28, 2015. Mr Mupazviriho declined to comment, while Mr Musikavanhu said: “I have told you before that this is a board issue, which is handled by the ministry. I am sorry; I can’t comment on that.”
Water Minister Oppah Muchinguri said Mr Musikavanhu had “voluntarily” stepped down.
“Musikavanhu left close to a month ago. He is no longer at Zinwa. We are moving forward and we don’t want to dwell on things that happened in the past.
“We are moving with speed to restore order at Zinwa because the CEO is in office to turn around the situation at the parastatal. I will also be appointing two board members to fill vacant positions.”
There are two vacancies on the Zinwa board following the resignation of the chair, Mr Michael Ndoro, and Mr Musikavanhu’s departure.
In August 2015, the Zimbabwe Explorers’ and Small Scale Miners’ Association claimed 14 of its members paid US$110 000-plus each to get desiltation licences.
In addition, they also each coughed up US$5 000 application fees and US$30 000 per 30km block in annual licence fees.
The companies secured four such blocks. However, Zinwa disowned these licences and fingers were pointed at Mr Musikavanhu for issuing the papers without board approval. Commercial director Mr Mike Jasi was suspended as desiltation licensing was under his jurisdiction.
Zinwa undertook to refund the miners who were also accused of illegally mining gold under the pretext of desilting.
Mining along riverbeds is prohibited by Statutory Instrument 92 of 2014. Desilting involves moving sand from key water bodies like rivers to enable water to flow freely.
