Former Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri was one of the major beneficiaries of the government’s infrastructural development projects. Chihuri’s company Kidsdale had major government contracts to dualise the Harare-Mutare Road as well as the Harare-Bulawayo road. The latter project is part of the Chirundu-Harare-Beitbridge dualisation project which is expected to cost US$ 998 million. Chihuri revealed this information while defending himself in a US$3 million lawsuit in which he is alleged to have seized cars and properties.
In his court papers written through his lawyers, Chihuri says:
Between February and June 2007, your client stole 49 500 litres of diesel meant for Kidsdale’s Shamva project. In 2011, Kidsdale was contracted on the Harare-Bulawayo Road dualisation project.
Your client, as the transport manager, contracted his two tipper trucks alongside his employer’s trucks, drawing diesel from Kidsdale Enterprises account at PaKarina Service Station. He drew 2 150 of diesel valued at $2 795.
The allegations by your client are baseless and your demand for $2 968 000 is also baseless. Your threat to approach the court is groundless. This is a desperate attempt to extort money
However, the applicant in Chihuri’s case Bigboy Pachirera said:
…We are aware that you are currently earning income out of use of his vehicles, which are working on the Harare-Mutare highway.
The case is still pending at the courts. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has directed senior government officials to declare their assets partly to avoid such conflict of interest deals.
More: Chronicle
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