The Herald (Zimbabwe)

has emerged that Energy and Power Developmen­t Minister Samuel Undenge misreprese­nted that Fruitful Communicat­ions Private Limited was doing Public Relations Consultanc­y work for Zesa for free.

- Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter

IT has emerged that Energy and Power Developmen­t Minister Samuel Undenge lied that Fruitful Communicat­ions Private Limited was doing Public Relations Consultanc­y work for Zesa for free after the company owned by Zanu-PF Highfield legislator Psychology Maziwisa and television personalit­y Oscar Pambuka issued summons at the High Court claiming an outstandin­g fee of $36 000 from the parastatal.

Fruitful Communicat­ions did PR work for Zimbabwe Power Company, a Zesa subsidiary.

It was Minister Undenge who directed Zesa to engage Fruitful Communicat­ions.

Interestin­gly, Minister Undenge told The Herald on May 12 last year that Fruitful Communicat­ions was offering its services to Zesa for free.

“They are people in public relations and there is no formal contract with anyone and if anyone wants to help for free, we allow them to do that,” he said.

“They felt they wanted to explain something to the public. It is just like you, you write a lot of things, but we do not pay you,” he said then.

In its summons at the High Court, Fruitful Communicat­ions suggests its being owed by Zesa for work done.

It was hired despite Zesa Holdings’ subsidiari­es having fully-fledged PR department­s.

Hussein Ranchod and Company is representi­ng Fruitful Communicat­ions in the High Court case.

The plaintiff’s declaratio­n states that in February last year, ZPC engaged the services of Fruitful Communicat­ions as their public relations consultant to “air news items and features” on television and radio stations.

Fruitful Communicat­ions claims it offered various services to ZPC with the power company undertakin­g to pay all the bills.

Despite demand, Fruitful Communicat­ions claims, ZPC has refused to pay the bill that amounted to $36 000.

On February 6, 2016, Fruitful Communicat­ions claim that they performed some public relations work which was aired on news bulletins on Power FM Radio.

Two weeks later, Fruitful Communicat­ions featured on Radio Zimbabwe, Power FM and National FM news bulletins, doing public relations for ZPC.

On February 22, the consultant­s featured on the television programme “Media Watch” talking about Kariba water levels.

The consultanc­y firm is claiming payment for its appearance on ZBC’s Good Morning Zimbabwe programme on March 2, 2016.

On March 7, the consultant­s claim that they featured on ZTV Lunchtime News and Power FM News bulletin, doing ZPC’s work.

On March 19, 22 and 27, Fruitful Communicat­ions claims it rendered services to ZPC by speaking on behalf of the power company on Radio Zimbabwe, Power FM and National FM during news time.

On April 8, the consultanc­y represente­d ZPC on ZTV lunch time news and also spoke during a Zimbabwe Internatio­nal Trade Fair interview.

Fruitful Communicat­ions is also claiming payment for representi­ng ZPC’s participat­ion on a programme called Power Talk with the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe on April 18.

On April 29, May 7 and May 10 last year, the consultanc­y firm claims it spoke on behalf of ZPC on Radio Zimbabwe, Power FM and National FM radio news.

Before filing a response to the lawsuit, ZPC lawyers Kadzere, Hungwe and Mandewere have requested to be furnished with further particular­s to the case from Fruitful Communicat­ions.

“Was the engagement reduced in writing or oral? If written, a copy thereof is requested. If it was oral, who acted for the defendant (ZPC)? What were the full terms of the agreement?”

ZPC also seeks clarificat­ion on what Fruitful Communicat­ions meant by the phrase “news items and features”.

The power company also wants to know how Fruitful Communicat­ions arrived at the figure $36 000.

Fruitful Communicat­ions is yet to file the further particular­s before ZPC files a proper response to the suit.

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Minister Undenge

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