PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has fired incarcerated cabinet minister Prisca Mupfumira with immediate effect, Zim Morning Post has learnt.
In a letter seen by this publication dated August 8 2019, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda wrote to Mupfumira advising her of Mnangagwa’s decision.
“Please be advised that His Exellency President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Cde E.D Mnangagwa, has in terms of section 340, SUBSECTION (1) ,paragraph(10, AS READ with subsection 104, subsection (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe has removed you Prisca Mupfumira from the office of Cabinet Minister and Minister of Government with immediate effect for conduct inappropriate for a government minister,” read the letter.
Prior to her dismissal , Industry and Commerce minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu had replaced her in acting capacity.
Mupfumira was the first high-profile victim to be arrested by the rejuvenated Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commision (ZACC) .
The matter is sub judice but Mupfumira was appointed on Mnangagwa’s discretion as a public servant and has no basis of contesting her dismissal before conviction should she be acquitted at the close of the State’s case.
The 68 year-old former minister is facing seven counts of alleged criminal abuse of office all of which were committed when she was the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social welfare, prejudicing the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) of money amounting to US$95 million.
Allegations against Mupfumira are that in 2014, following her appointment as the minister of public service labour and social welfare, she intentionally acted contrary to her duties as a public officer by verbally instructing the then permanent secretary in her ministry Ngoni Masoka to get a loan advance of USD$90 000 from NSSA.
NSSA being a parastatal under her ministry availed the loan advance which was intended for the purchase of her ministerial vehicle, a Toyota Landcruiser model ADX-0878 from Croco Motors as per her instructions.
It is alleged that Mupfumira allegedly did this regardless of the fact that NSSA had no provisions to issue such loans.
After the purchase of the Landcruiser, she went on to receive another ministerial vehicle, a Range Rover which was availed to her by government and she accepted it knowing well that she had already bought another one through the NSSA loan she was still servicing.
It is further alleged that sometime in 2016 and on different occasions and in the exercise of her functions as the minister, she intentionally acted contrary to her duties as a public officer by corruptly requesting for US$101 814.80 from NSSA’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) budget to use for activities believed to be advances to the parent ministry.
Mupfumira is alleged to have verbally directed NSSA outside of its mandate to set up a budget of US$350 000 for the ministry’s financial demands on top of the normal NSSA’s corporate social responsibility budget from where she later claimed a total of US$303 520.03 for her personal and political interests in her constituency in 2017.
Mupfumira is allegedly facing seven counts of criminal abuse of office all of which were committed when she was the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social welfare, prejudicing the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) of money amounting to US$95 million.
Allegations against Mupfumira are that in 2014, following her appointment as the minister of public service labour and social welfare, she intentionally acted contrary to her duties as a public officer by verbally instructing the then permanent secretary in her ministry Ngoni Masoka to get a loan advance of USD$90 000 from NSSA.
NSSA being a parastatal under her ministry availed the loan advance which was intended for the purchase of her ministerial vehicle, a Toyota Landcruiser model ADX-0878 from Croco Motors as per her instructions.
It is alleged that Mupfumira allegedly did this regardless of the fact that NSSA had no provisions to issue such loans.
After the purchase of the Landcruiser, she went on to receive another ministerial vehicle, a Range Rover which was availed to her by government and she accepted it knowing well that she had already bought another one through the NSSA loan she was still servicing.
It is further alleged that sometime in 2016 and on different occasions and in the exercise of her functions as the minister, she intentionally acted contrary to her duties as a public officer by corruptly requesting for US$101 814.80 from NSSA’s corporate social responsibility budget to use for activities believed to be advances to the parent ministry.
Mupfumira is alleged to have verbally directed NSSA outside of its mandate to set up a budget of US$350 000 for the ministry’s financial demands on top of the normal NSSA’s corporate social responsibility budget from where she later claimed a total of US$303 520.03 for her personal and political interests in her constituency in 2017.
She was further accused of externalising funds and purchasing properties abroad.
Last week Zimbabwe Tourism Authority board chair and a fellow board member resigned citing interference in delivering their mandate from Mupfumira.
Zim Morning Post understands Mnangagwa is under pressure to show that his anti-corruption body is genuine and not the traditional ‘catch and release’ tactic that was used by his mentor Robert Mugabe administration as diversion.
