Victor Mapani, the ousted ZESCO Managing Director, continues to lobby individuals inside and outside the system to persuade President Hakainde Hichilema, also IDC Chairperson, to reverse his dismissal.
Mapani, known for his arrogance and abusive leadership at the only state power utility firm, has been using his allies, influential individuals close to the President, including Munakupya Hantuba and Valentine Chitalu, to plead his case.
Mapani has been experiencing sleepless nights planning on how he should come back to Zesco. 
On the other hand, Mapani has been using his Chola boys such as Felix Munsaka (Procurement Director) and Maxwell Saya (Human Resource Director) to push for his reinstatement
Initially, Mapani’s dismissal for incompetence should have occurred in June, but former Minister of Energy Peter Kapala now livestock and fisheries overseer unceremoniously reversed the board’s decision due to intimidation.
Mapani has been masquerading and intimidating people, claiming he’s untouchable due to his alleged close relationship with President Hakainde Hichilema, which is not true.
Recently, Mapani bribed union leaders with 80,000 kwacha each to convince workers to do a protest to drive an agenda and narrative that ZESCO can not operate without him, the move that has proved futile as workers are organizing his exit party at an appropriate time.
Our investigation reveals that despite him being on forced leave pending contract expiration, Mapani attended a board meeting, infuriating the chairman.
This blatant disregard for authority and directives from the President and Ministry is unprecedented in ZESCO’s history.
Mapani’s actions have created a paradoxical impression. Despite appearing disinterested in the job, he has been secretly meeting various individuals to negotiate his return to ZESCO.
After the Board decided to place Victor Mapani on forced leave until his contract expires on December 2, 2024, Matembo Lisimba, the Company Secretary, delayed drafting the notification letters to the minister and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
Despite the standard procedures, Matembo took two days to draft the letters and initially failed to deliver them on time. Only after follow-ups did she finally submit the letters.
Matembo’s subsequent resignation was sudden and unexpected. Her decision was reportedly influenced by Mapani’s slim chances of returning to his managing director position.
Meanwhile, his departure has left his loyal allies and friends, whom he brought into the organization, in a state of uncertainty regarding their future.
Questionable Power Purchase Agreement.
The Anti-Corruption Commission should take keen interest in investigating the signed expensive power purchase agreement with Mozambique’s Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) at 17 US cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), while other companies buy power from the same utility at 12 US cents per kWh by Embattled Victor Mapani.
The Editor Zambia investigations indicate that Mapani signed a questionable, high-priced power purchase agreement with Mozambique’s Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM).
Insiders reveal that Mapani agreed to pay 17 US cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), significantly higher than the 12 US cents per kWh rate at which other countries source the same power.
Mapani signed a dubious agreement with EDM at 17 US cents per kWh, while other countries, including South Africa, import power from EDM at 12 US cents per kWh.
We congratulate Engineer Justin Loongo, the Acting Managing Director and former Director Transmission, on his appointment.
We challenge Mr Mapani to deny this information, and then we will avail of the evidence on the purchase of power from Mozambique. ( C) THE Editor Zambia 2024.
