Top Zanu PF chefs linked to Farmtec
Saturday, 25 September 2010 16:57
FARMTEC Spares & Implements, one of the companies that led the seizure of
Reserve Bank assets over a US$2,1 million debt has links to Zanu PF chefs,
according to investigations by The Standard.
Farmtec supplied the RBZ with tractors in 2008 at the height of the bank’s
farm mechanisation programme.
Some of the equipment is still lying idle at the National Railways of
Zimbabwe yard in Bulawayo with Zanu PF officials still struggling to find a
distribution formula.
The Standard can now reveal that one of the directors of the company was the
late Zanu PF political commissar, Elliot Manyika, lending weight to claims
that politicians used their muscle to win lucrative contracts to supply
equipment to the RBZ.
The mechanisation programme was one of the quasi-fiscal activities
undertaken by the central bank which was blamed for the hyperinflation that
brought the economy to its knees.
However, the central bank contends that its interventions were necessary to
deal with an extraordinary situation brought about by sanctions.
Correspondence in possession of this paper shows that the late Manyika – who
died in a road accident in 2008 – was one of the directors of Farmtec.
In a February 12 2009 letter to RBZ governor Gideon Gono, Farmtec wrote:
“Further to several meetings held between your office and our late director
CDE ET Manyika, where we entered into a supply agreement for a total of one
hundred and fifty (150) tractors and our subsequent delivery of the first
lot of sixty (60) tractors, we would like to highlight to your office that
since the 8th of December 2008, the bank is still to pay for these
tractors.”
The letter was signed by one of the directors, Madeline Manyika and
operations manager, Maud Nyabadza.
Madeline was the late politician’s wife.
The letter said that the non-payment “is now seriously affecting our
relationship and business with our foreign suppliers in India and hence the
urgent settlement of the payment for the first sixty (60) tractors amounting
to US$2 100 011,00 (two million one hundred thousand and eleven dollars)
will be greatly appreciated”.
“As agreed with Cde ET Manyika, the balance of ninety (90) tractors can only
be delivered after the first sixty (60) are paid for,” Farmtec said.
Farmtec was previously located at Number 7/18 Merlin Close in Waterfalls but
has now relocated to 1553 Soutter Road, New Ardbennie area.
It trades as both Farmtec and Elimobil Enterprises.
Searches at the companies’ registry over the past four months yielded
nothing.This paper was told that the file, number 1169/2006 was in their
records but unavailable.
Farmtec is one of the several companies that obtained a writ of execution
from the High Court and the move led to the auctioning of RBZ assets for a
song across the country.
The seizure of the assets was only stopped by a presidential decree
following recommendations by Finance Minister Tendai Biti that government
had to protect the assets of the apex bank.
Efforts to get comment from Madeline were fruitless as she was said to be
out of the office last week.
The office first declined knowledge of Madeline’ association before
mellowing up, saying she was not in the office and could be reachable on her
mobile phone.
However, the number was unreachable.
Nyabadza referred all questions to the company’s lawyer, David Kanokanga of
Kanokanga & Associates who was unavailable for comment.
Manyika’s son, Ronald said he was not aware that Farmtec is owned by the
family.
BY NDAMU SANDU