Chivinge faces axe over China trip

Chivinge faces axe over China trip

• ZBH board cut as Muradzikwa named CEO

• Muradzikwa set to be named new ZBH boss

• Zanu PF fires newspaper editor

• Power struggle at Information Ministry

• Zimbabwe's information minister Jokonya dies

• Jonathan Moyo: ZBH needs money, but whose money?

• Jokonya makes sweeping changes at ZBH

• MP's finger Herald political editor over sexual abuse

By Staff Reporter

A CIO probe was underway last night into how Newsnet Editor-In-Chief Chris Chivinge last week managed to "sneak" into a Presidential delegation to China
without authority from Cabinet, as is the norm.

Chivinge also did not have the approval of the new ZBH CEO, Henry Muradzikwa, for the trip. He now faces dismissal, ZBH sources said last night.

Furious Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) chiefs are said to be keen to find out who authorised Chivinge's trip, seen as part of a growing culture of unprofessionalism among Presidential aides.

President Robert Mugabe's official spokesman and Chivinge's close friend, George Charamba, is believed to have facilitated for the Newsnet boss to board the plane to China, when only chief correspondent Reuben Barwe and a cameraman were supposed to go and cover the trip for state television.

Government and ZBH sources said a full-scale CIO probe was in swing. It is believed that several other people connected to presidential aides have been smuggled into the chartered Air Zimbabwe flights mainly to the Far East for shopping trips on free rides.

On returning to Zimbabwe, presidential delegations are not subjected to normal immigration and excise duty routines, making it possible for people to bring merchandise without paying any taxes.

To compound Chivinge's problems, the entire ZBH board and the CEO have resolved to resign should Charamba attempt to protect Chivinge like he has done before on several other issues of misconduct, board sources said.

Chivinge is believed to have gone to China to buy computers, allegedly to sell them to Newsnet, through a third party.

A source revealed: "Authorities here have launched a full-scale investigation into the matter and Chivinge looks set to go this time around. Muradzikwa last week told the board that Chivinge went to China without his authority, and that when he (Muradzikwa) went to ZBH to be introduced by board chairman, Justin Mutasa four weeks ago, Chivinge deliberately did not attend, while all the other subsidiary heads were there."

To cover his back, sources say Charamba telephoned Muradzikwa on his return and pretended to have been surprised to see Chivinge on the plane after take-off.

A source said: "It would appear someone in the board told Charamba about that the board members were seething with anger and he quickly moved to give the impression that he had nothing to do with Chivinge's travel. This is what he does when things get hot. It's typical of the man."

Chivinge's troubles have multiplied in recent weeks after accusations that he commandeered three company vehicles and "loaned" them out to officials from the Pig Industry Board, allegedly as a favour for assisting him to kick-start a piggery project he is establishing on a farm he was recently allocated.

ZBH bosses have been told that the vehicles were fuelled at the Newsnet depot at Pockets Hill and driven out and given to the PIB officials who used them for taking supplies and other inputs to Chivinge's farm.

A New Zimbabwe.com source revealed: "Someone sold him out and he is in trouble. This time around, he seems to have met his fate. At best, he can
be allowed to leave ZBH without charge at the end of the month with the rest of the former CEO's whose posts have been abolished, or else he would be fired."

Charamba has been accused of interfering in ZBH operations, even deciding who goes on which Presidential trips. Charamba's critics see this is an attempt to enrich his blue-eyed boys at ZBH.

Charamba also does the same at Zimpapers, where Innocent Gore and Itayi Musengeyi are the only ones allowed to cover Mugabe's numerous trips to Asia, the Pacific and Africa.

Reuben Barwe and Judith Makwanya are the "chosen ones" for ZBH.

There was a revolt recently at the state-run Herald newspaper when other journalists queried why Gore had no interest covering Mugabe's domestic engagements.

Meanwhile, Muradzikwa is on Wednesday expected to announce his management team, with information suggesting that most, if not all, of the former CEO's will be shown the door.

They have been given notices of termination of contracts at the end of the month, but nothing has been said about their packages.

Robson Mhandu is tipped to be the GM for television Services, while presenter Walter Mupfanochiya is tipped to head Radio Services.

"The two were seen running around last week drafting organograms and telling everyone that they were in charge," said one ZBH employee.

The source added: "What baffled us is that the deadline for interviews was only on Friday, and the interviews had not yet been done yet people seemed to have been promised jobs already."

Under the restructuring exercise, nine ZBH companies have been collapsed into two, TV and Radio, with a group CEO and two general managers.

Rhino Zhuwarara, who was executive chairman, has been sent home. Sources said he had not been told anything about his package.

Interview requests left with Muradzikwa's office had not been returned late last night.
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