The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has blown the trumpet warning Rural District Councils (RDCs) of an impending hit to root out corrupt practices nationwide.
According to the corruption watchdog spot-checks carried out unearthed vices that led to the arrest of three Chief Executive Officers (CEO) from Mashonaland central and East.
“…Compliance spot-checks and systems review exercises that have exposed malpractices in local authorities resulted in the arrest of three Chief Executive Officers and senior officials from Muzarabani, Guruve and Mudzi Rural District Councils this week,” Zacc said in a statement.
The anti-graft body has arrested Muzarabani RDC CEO Ennie Mafa Mutema, Guruve RDC CEO Tinos Marisa, Mudzi RDC CEO Victor Nyamutswa and his deputy, Farai Mutambawatusi who also heads the Human Resources Department.
Mutema and Marisa have been arraigned before the courts and are out of custody on bail while Nyamutswa and Mutambatuwisi are set to appear soon.
According to Zacc, Mutema was arrested for criminal abuse of office where it is alleged that “in 2012, the Muzarabani RDC entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with Varden Safaris whose terms were that the local authority would ensure the Mavhuradonha Wilderness area was free from mining, mineral panning, prospecting, human settlement, and construction of any type until 2036”.
On July 7,2015 she purportedly entered into another Memorandum of Agreement with Allen Mashumba who allegedly posed as Afrochine Smelting [Pvt] Limited Director in which the latter was given authority to conduct mining activities in the Mavhuradonha Wilderness.
“The arrangement resulted in incompatible activities as Varden Safaris are into wildlife game breeding and botanical reserves, whilst Afrochine is into mining which disturbs the well-being of animals and the natural environment. Mining activities do compromise the chances of the nature reserve being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
“She intentionally signed the agreement while aware that there was a subsisting agreement with Varden Safaris which prohibited any mining, mineral panning or prospecting, human settlement, construction of any type within the wilderness.
“Mutema allegedly disregarded the fact that the area was declared a protected area according to General Notice 369 of 1988 and a National Monument through Statutory Instrument 06 of 2017 and is awaiting confirmation of its World Heritage site status.”
In the process she overlooked verification of Mashumba’s status as a genuine Director or employee of Afrochine Smelting (Pvt) Limited or not.
Marisa faced the same charges after he was allegedly approached by Labenmon Investments who sought to be allowed access to mining sites which they claimed to be in Varden Safaris, Mavhuradonha Wilderness in Muzarabani on May 5, 2021.
“Despite knowing the area targeted by Labenmon Investments was outside his jurisdiction, Marisa allegedly wrote a letter granted the company permission to enter Varden Safaris wilderness.
“It is further alleged that acting on the authority of Marisa’s letter, personnel from Labenmon Investments forced their way into the conservancy and commenced clearing a three-metre-wide road in the conservancy,” Zacc said.
In granting Labenmon authority to enter the protected area, Marisa is reportedly overlooked the fact that “Tingwa Botanical Reserve where mining would be conducted in the Mavhuradonha Wilderness is a declared a National Monument according to SI6 of 2017 awaiting World Heritage Status”.
Nyamutswa and Mutambatuwisi are expected to appear in court after they were arrested for allegedly conniving to award a 150% salary and allowances increment without council resolution.
It is further alleged that the increase was over and above the salary approved by the National Employment Council (NEC) following a collective bargaining exercise,” the corruption watchdog said.
