Wicknell Chivayo's Chinese Partners Barred From Accessing Funds By AfDB For Fraud

Wicknell Chivayo’s foreign partners in the Gwanda solar project, CHiNT Electric, have been barred from accessing funds for three years by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) due to fraudulent activities.

Representatives from CHiNT electric were expected in Zimbabwe this week to renegotiate some of the terms of the $200 million Gwanda solar project contract. In a statement, AfDB said CHiNT had engaged in numerous fraudulent activities in bidding for a number of power projects AfDB had financed. AfDB has imposed a 3 year debarment on CHiNT Electric although the period may be reduced to 24 months if the firm complies with all conditions of the agreement early.

During the debarment period, CHiNT Electric is ineligible to be awarded contracts under any AfDB financed project or to be a sub-contractor. AfDB says CHiNT Electric has worked on other projects in Zimbabwe where they misrepresented the technical specifications, value, execution period and/or the degree of completion of contracts used as credentials in order to qualify for the tenders.