https://www.herald.co.zw/nssa-accountant-in-court-over-general-managers-personal-loan/

Nov. 8, 2022

Assistant Accountant at National Social Security Authority(NASSA) appeared in court on allegations of corruptly awarding the Authority's general manager a personal loan to buy a car using undervalued exchange rates.

23 arrested for bribing police

23 arrested for bribing police. Police on Friday turned down offers by 23 motorists they had nabbed for traffic offenses at a roadblock in Norton and arrested them for an additional crime of bribery.

Honorable Minister fired for misconduct

President removes Honourable Douglas Karoro (MP) from Office of Deputy Minister of Government, for conduct inappropriate for a Deputy Minister.

ZACC Commissioner Frank Muchengwa relieved of his duties with immediate effect

 The Tribunal set up to inquire into the removal from office of Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) Commissioner, Frank Muchengwa, over gross misconduct allegations, presented its report to President. President upheld the recommendations of the Tribunal and relieved ZACC Commissioner Frank Muchengwa of his duties with immediate effect

ZACC Investigates Border Corruption

The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) has launched investigations on Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials and security forces at the borders following the recent interception of nine buses ferrying smuggled goods.

ZACC Aims to Reclaim ill-gotten Gains.

ZACC is striving to reclaim $50 million in ill-gotten wealth. 35 cases have been investigated and sent to the National Prosecuting Authority with the High Court, according to Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo.

ZACC Blocks US$18m Illegal Transactions

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission is reaping the benefits of broadening the fight against corruption to encompass both prevention and prosecution of lawbreakers, as it recently prevented two fraudulent transactions in which parastatals were set to transfer US $1 billion for services not performed.

Cabinet considered and approved the Principles of the Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Whistle Blowers) Bill, 2022

Cabinet considered and approved the Principles of the Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Whistle Blowers) Bill, 2022 as presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. The nation is being informed that currently, Zimbabwe does not have specific legislation that provides for the protection of individuals that point out (‘whistle blow’) against illicit activities within organisations they are employed in. The gap is affecting the fight against corruption and exposing the whistle blowers to retaliation. The Bill will promote a Whole-of-Society Approach in the fight against corruption by protecting genuine witnesses who raise issues of public interest
 

Riot Act explained at VID Depots

Honorable Mhona read out the riot act on corruption at VID Depots. Furthermore, driving schools were cautioned for acting as conduits in the deals. The honorable Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development promised to conduct spot checks at all VID Depots to combat corruption and also deregister driving schools implicated in the same.

First Virtual Court Commissioned

The Judicial Service Commission Zimbabwe (JSC), commissioned the first Virtual Court System in Zimbabwe, at Harare Magistrate Court.

Government Moves Closer to Virtual Court Sittings

Members of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) are receiving training to pave way for the new Integrated Electronic Case Management Systems (IECMS) that will facilitate virtual sittings of the courts among others.

ZACC targets all Auditor General Reports.

To improve public financial management systems and combat corruption and abuse of power, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) wants all Auditor General reports implemented in full for 250 departments, parastatals, and other public organizations. ZACC aims to prevent corruption as it important as catching the corrupt.

Amendment of the Anti-Corruption Act

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has proposed modifying the Anti-Corruption Act, advocating for a whistleblower protection law, confiscation of ill-gotten riches in collaboration with foreign agencies, and a need for enhanced financial allocation to combat chronic corruption. Several government officials have been detained on corruption charges, including ministers and directors. Some of the cases are still before the courts. Justice Loyce Matanda-Moyo, chairman of the ZACC, addressed the 9th session of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNODC) Conference of State Parties in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, that a process was ongoing to change numerous pieces of law to comprehensively combat corruption.

ZACC Pursues Properties Owned by Zimbabweans in the Isle of Man Valued at US$6,5 million

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has started legal proceedings to take properties in the Isle of Man held by Zimbabweans for US$6,5 million (ZW$75 581 395). Zacc has requested mutual legal cooperation with authorities in the Isle of Man in order to reclaim properties suspected of being purchased with profits of crime. Similar initiatives are underway in South Africa, where three cases are now pending before the courts.

ZACC crack team targets Councils

A crack team has been set up by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) to speed up investigations into urban and rural councils, some identified Government departments and the tobacco and cotton industries as it pushes to achieve its objective of completing 180 criminal dockets for prosecution before year end.

Zimbabwe seeks local IT consultant for biometric authentication API project

Zimbabwe, through its Public Service Commission (PSC), has launched a tender for the selection of a local IT consultancy firm for the development of an Application Programming Interface (API) for the government’s biometric authentication program.

ZACC goes after US$13m external assets

THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) started the process to track down, seize and repatriate movable and immovable assets worth more than US$13 million acquired by Zimbabweans in five foreign jurisdictions using proceeds of corruption.

Removal of Ghost Workers in Civil Service

Zimbabwe’s government has removed more than 10,000 “ghost workers” from its payroll after biometrically registering its employees. More than 90% of state revenue has been used to pay wages over recent years. While a number of workers have either left their jobs or died, their salaries have continued to be paid — due to bureaucratic errors or corruption.

Harare finance director nabbed

Harare City Council finance director Tendai Kwenda has been arrested on corruption allegations involving the US$8 million he paid top managers in allowances, holidays, purchase of personal vehicles and hefty retrenchment packages, including a US$1,7 million package for one manager. President Mnangagwa declared zero tolerance to corruption and the anti-corruption hawks including the Special Anti-Corruption Unit (SACU), Zimbabwe Anti-Corr0uption Unit and Police Anti-Corruption Unit are working tirelessly to make arrests of people involved in the activities. The arrests come barely two days after Harare human resources director Cainos Chingombe was arrested by police working with the SACU for alleged criminal abuse of office and defrauding the council of millions of dollars.

Audit targets 36 officials

THIRTY-SIX high-profile figures, who have assets worth a combined US$4,5 million, are the target of a fresh lifestyle audit that is being conducted by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), it has emerged.

Investigation of the Grain Marketing Board Roller Meal Scheme Abuse Syndicate

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has busted a syndicate involving Grain Marketing Board (GMB) workers who are allegedly hoarding mealie-meal for resale on the black market at extortionate prices.

ZACC chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo told The Sunday Mail that some of the parastatal’s employees were in some instances allocating themselves in excess of 10,000 20kg bags of Silo roller meal, which they would subsequently offload to the informal market.

Training of the Judiciary on Judging Corruption Cases

Government has invited a top-notch Ugandan Anti-Corruption Court judge to train Zimbabwe’s Judiciary, ahead of the establishment of anti-corruption courts.

Justice Lawrence Gidudu, who has been heading Uganda’s Anti-Corruption Court for five years, is in the country to conduct a week-long training to be attended by judges, magistrates, prosecutors, anti-corruption investigators and police officers, among other stakeholders.

Restructuring of the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (ZINARA)

The Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) has been restructured with a new management and has been returned to its legislated mandate of collecting road user fees for disbursement to local authorities after being stopped from implementing road building and repairs itself.

Roll-out of the National electronic fuel monitoring devices

Government has released US$300 000 for the national roll-out of electronic fuel monitoring devices that will curb malpractices in the petroleum industry.

The new national fuel monitoring and management system, which was developed by Matsimba Technology, will monitor fuel stocks at individual service stations using electronic dipsticks.

Criminal Investigation of serving public officials

Forty-four serving and former Cabinet ministers, permanent secretaries, parastatal bosses and legislators are facing “imminent” arrest for corruption, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo has said. She said the commission was mainly focusing on criminal abuse of office, theft of funds, bribery and flouting of tender procedures, among other offences.

The National Social Security Authority's forensic audit report has been tabled before parliament

The National Social Security Authority (NSSA) forensic audit report tabled in Parliament this week exposes shocking corruption, fraud, criminal abuse of office and theft that saw the authority being prejudiced of over US$175 million. NSSA suffered actual financial prejudice to the tune of US$7,536,375, while investigators detected potential financial prejudice of US$167,713,756. Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira and the authority’s former board chairman Mr Robin Vela feature prominently in the report. Off-take housing contracts awarded to undeserving companies through corruption have potentially prejudiced NSSA of US$104 million.

Tourism Minister Prisca Mupfumira arrested over NSSA corruption

Tourism Minister Prisca Mupfumira was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on Thursday, and faces charges over the looting of the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) in her previous role as public service and labour minister.

Senior officials at the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing head office have been nailed for interfering with the allocation of land in

Senior officials at the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing head office have been nailed for interfering with the allocation of land in favour of their cronies in the lucrative Mt Hampden area, where Government is constructing the New Parliament Building and intends to establish a new city. Former Zvimba Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Peter Hlohla revealed the alleged fraudulent allocation and distribution of land in the area when he appeared before the Commission of Inquiry into Urban State Land since 2005.

Cabinet approved declaration of assets by Civil Servants.

In a first for public administration in the country, Cabinet has approved values and principles of a framework that will see public servants declare assets to ensure accountability. Additionally, a code of conduct will be adopted in the civil service, while Government workers will have to observe political neutrality in terms of the Constitution. These reforms are part of a raft of measures by President Mnangagwa’s administration, with the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) recognising that the civil service reform agenda  will ensure that operations of  ministries, and their departments and agencies are underpinned by a new culture blueprint that exhibits higher levels of professionalism, ethics, accountability and performance. Under the TSP, reforms at public enterprises are set to ensure, inter alia, de-politicisation of Government and entities’ governance relationships.

The government gazetted the Presidential Powers Statutory Instrument which empowers government to seize assets of officu who fail to disclose their source of wealth.

President Mnangagwa gazetted the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) (Amendment of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act and Exchange Control Act) Regulations, 2018 which empowers Government to seize assets of people who fail to disclose the source their wealth. In Statutory Instrument 246 of 2018 published in the Government Gazette, President Mnangagwa said Government may issue an unexplained wealth order in respect of properties with no full disclosure.

An audit of ZINARA by Grant Thornton unearthes unearthed massive looting of public funds and financial leakages.

An audit report by Grant Thornton at ZINARA unearthed massive looting of public funds and financial leakages that were exacerbated by incompetence by senior managers to negotiate contracts beneficial to the parastatal. A committee instituted by then Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joram Gumbo recommended a lifestyle audit of Zinara bosses, some of whom had been parachuted to senior positions without the requisite qualifications. 

Parliamentarians expected to declare their assets.

Parliamentarians are expected  to declare details of their assets and income, as part of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s drive to boost transparency and reinforce the government’s commitment to fighting corruption in the recession-hit economy. This comes after Mnangagwa declared that all public office holders — including Cabinet ministers, their deputies, senior government officials and bosses of State-owned businesses — were now legally required to make a declaration of assets.