Charges filed in Zimbabwean courts that accused Huawei of fraudulently winning a $200 million contract from Zimbabwe’s state owned NetOne has been dropped.
One Zimbabwean born businessman who is now in South Africa, Tafadzwa Muguti, said that he had wanted to bid for part of the contract, and alleged that it was awarded to Huawei without the usual checks or a public tender.
The case was discharged earlier this year, according to South Africa’s local media, but reasons as to why the case was dropped is not clearly indicated.
NetOne’s expansion project had been put on hold pending the outcome of the legal fight.
NetOne managing director, Reward Kangai, has confirmed the withdrawal of the court case, which he said would permit the final signing of the upgrade contract with Huawei.
The upgrade is being financed by a loan from the Chinese state linked bank, China Exim Bank.
The contract was originally awarded in July 2012 and was for 2,000 base stations with LTE upgrade capability.
