Zanu PF Bikita South MP Energy Mutodi is facing renewed credibility problems after a major construction company at the centre of his recent corruption allegations issued a public statement flatly denying his claims of extortion against Finance Ministry permanent secretary George Guvamatanga.
The company, Bitumen World (Pvt) Ltd, published a detailed notice on Wednesday explicitly dissociating itself from posts made by Mutodi on the X social media platform.
In his post, Mutodi, who uses the handle @energymutodi, alleged that Bitumen World was being forced to pay kickbacks to Guvamatanga.
He specifically claimed the company had “been asked to pay US$200 000 by George for every $2 000 000 weekly payments he authorises them to receive,” adding that they had complained to Parliament’s budget committee.
In a firm rebuttal, Bitumen World denied any such solicitation had taken place.
“We categorically state that we have not received any solicitations from Mr George Guvamatanga,” the statement, signed by chief executive officer Andre Zietsman, read.
The company further distanced itself “from the post made by Dr Energy Mutodi... to the extent that the contents thereof relate to it.”
This denial dealt a significant blow to Mutodi’s allegations, removing the central actor from the narrative he presented.
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The company’s statement instead reaffirmed its “firm commitment to supporting the government of Zimbabwe’s infrastructure development agenda.”
The public denial is likely to force Mutodi to account for the source of his claims, which now appear to be uncorroborated by the very company he named.
Bitumen’s public slap came a day after Mutodi had been dismissed as chairman of Parliament’s finance committee.
The dismissal, confirmed in a terse letter from the speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda, who is also the chairperson of the committee on standing rules and orders (CSRO).
“This serves to notify you that pursuant to Standing Order No. 19 of the National Assembly, the committee on standing rules and orders has resolved to terminate your tenure as chairperson of the portfolio committee on budget, finance and investment Promotion with immediate effect,” read part of the correspondence.
Mudenda also said all benefits and entitlements associated with the position had been discontinued. The letter was copied to Zanu PF chief whip, Pupurai Togarepi, and clerk of Parliament, Kennedy Chokuda.
Mutodi had openly accused Guvamatanga demanding bribes from contractors, ministries and government departments.
He later withdrew the charges saying that he did not have evidence.
Political analysts suggested that Mutodi’s public confrontation with a key architect of government economic policy crossed a red line.
