ZPC Gives Wicknell Chivayo’s Intratrek 24 Months to Finish Gwanda Solar Project
The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) has issued a fresh 24-month deadline and a formal Notice to Proceed to controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo’s Intratrek Zimbabwe, reviving the stalled 100-megawatt Gwanda solar project years after an initial contract cancellation over a US$5 million advance payment dispute.
A Revived Contract and a New Countdown
According to reports from NewZimbabwe.com, Pindula News, and The Herald, the multi-million-dollar infrastructure initiative is back on track following a government green light. The revival forces Intratrek back to the drawing board under a strict timeline. The project’s engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) cost was previously adjusted from US$172 million down to US$132 million to match falling global solar installation expenses, as reported by Nehandaradio.com. Despite past disputes and legal battles, ZPC expects physical development to resume immediately.
Intratrek executive chairman Wilson Manase outlined the firm’s immediate operational plans to government authorities. According to Nehandaradio.com, Manase stated that site mobilization will involve establishing temporary facilities and positioning equipment for full-scale execution.
“Our mobilisation will encompass site establishment of temporary site facilities and other preparatory activities necessary to position the project for full-scale execution of the subsequent EPC works,” Wilson Manase said, as reported by Nehandaradio.com.
Manase added that the company has established and submitted the requisite advance payment guarantee through its technical partner, CHiNT Electric. Government stipulations require Intratrek to submit regular, periodic progress reports directly to the Office of the President and Cabinet, the employer’s representative, and ZPC to ensure strict adherence to contractual milestones.
Navigating Procurement and Oversight Complexities
Major infrastructure revivals of this scale demand meticulous administrative tracking and regulatory compliance. Ensuring projects clear complex procurement hurdles often requires oversight from specialized legal and corporate advisory frameworks.
The Gwanda installation carries immense weight for the national grid, designed to inject 100 megawatts of renewable energy into a power sector desperately seeking capacity and relief from heavy import reliance. Yet, the shadows of the past remain fresh in the public eye. Intratrek previously received a US$5 million advance payment following its 2014 tender win, but construction stalled indefinitely, culminating in ZPC cancelling the agreement in 2018.
Legal Precedents and the Road to the Supreme Court
The path back to the construction site was forged through exhaustive legal battles rather than immediate administrative accord. Intratrek challenged the 2018 contract termination in court. The company argued that crippling sovereign risk factors inside Zimbabwe hindered its ability to secure foreign financing at the time, according to court documentation highlighted by Nehandaradio.com.
The judicial system provided a lifeline to the contractor. In January 2023, the High Court ruled that the underlying agreement remained valid. That decision was later reinforced in December 2023 when the Supreme Court dismissed ZPC’s appeal. Those rulings paved the way for the government and Intratrek to formally sign a restated agreement on March 27, 2025.
As heavy machinery prepares to return to the Gwanda site under the newly minted 24-month directive, local economies and energy analysts watch with cautious skepticism.