HARARE – The Rural Electrification Fund (REF) has dismissed as “false and misleading” social media reports claiming it awarded fast-food outlet Eat n Lick a US$600,000 catering contract for a power commissioning ceremony in Chipinge.
In a statement, REF clarified that the actual value of the tender was ZWG603,600, not USD.
“The story circulating in the social media claiming that Zimbabweans were shocked as Eat n Lick was awarded a tender valued at USD600,000 by Rural Electrification Fund for catering at Hakwata Power switch-on ceremony is misleading, false and damaging the good reputation of the Fund,” the organisation said.
Eat n Lick was contracted to provide catering services for 5,000 community members who attended the commissioning of a 200kW solar plant in Hakwata in November 2024.
“The order was to supply and deliver the following to Hakwata in Chipinge: 5,000 slicers, 5,000 x 500ml soft drinks and 5,000 x 500ml mineral water,” REF said.
The Fund said the procurement process followed all legal procedures under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act [22:23].
The error, it explained, came from a published list of awarded tenders in The Herald on 31 July 2025.
“During the compilation of the advert, an error occurred where the total contract awarded to Eat n Lick was captured as USD603,600 instead of ZWG603,600.00 as contained in the tender documents.”
