5 Ministers in Mnangagwa's cabinet that have been implicated in corruption scandals

US$2 billion fraud case

During his tenure as Mines and Mining Development Minister, Mpofu was accused of flaunting corporate business principles by single-handedly running the affairs of the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation between February 20, 2009 and June 13, 2009 after dissolving its board and held several meetings with investors for which he did not take minutes. Mpofu was accused of demanding a US$10 million bribe by Kurotwi.

ZISCO Scandal

As Industry and International Trade Minister, Obert Mpofu almost faced impeachment for perjury after he allegedly lied under oath to the Parliamentary Committee investigating ZISCO. Mpofu initially told the Committee that senior officials had looted ZISCO but later backtracked, saying he was not aware of any particular minister or senior person or parliamentarian or anybody involved in ZISCO scandal.

This was seen as an attempt by the Minister to protect the named top government officials.

Top government officials who included former vice-presidents Joice Mujuru and Joseph Msika allegedly looted assets belonging to Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (ZISCO). ZISCO was registered as a private company and the government owned 91%.

Marange or Chiadzwa Diamonds Scandal

Former President Robert Mugabe admitted that $15 billion was lost in Marange since commencement of diamond mining. Mpofu was the Minister of Mines and Mining Development at the time.

2. Patrick Chinamasa

Corruption Scandal(s): Interference with the judiciary, ZISCO Scandal, Dema Emergency Power Plant fuel scandal, Causeway dam scandal

Interference with the judiciary

As Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Patrick Chinamasa was implicated as having interfered with the functions of the judiciary in a case involving the  Associated Newspaper Group of Zimbabwe (ANZ) and the Media and Information Commission (MIC). ANZ was banned from publishing its two newspapers, the Daily News and the Daily News on Sunday. The ANZ took the matter to court and was presided over by former judge Michael Majuru. In his affidavit in support of an application to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Justice Majuru narrated how Chinamasa interfered with the work of the judiciary.

Part of the report states that around 24 September 2003, Chinamasa invited Majuru’s workmate (Justice Machaka), who was also a Judge at the Administrative Court to issue instructions that the matter involving ANZ was to be conducted in a manner he was going to dictate. Chinamasa pointed out that the case was not supposed to be treated on an urgent basis by the Administrative Court. He therefore instructed that the court delays the proceedings until February 2004 in order to frustrate ANZ through delays.

Dema Emergency Power Plant Fuel Scandal

The Zimbabwe Independent reported that, Patrick Chinamasa, through the Finance ministry’s permanent secretary Willard Manungo, illegally granted permission to African Chrome Fields (ACF) to import 12 million litres of fuel duty-free in 2016. This prejudiced Treasury of revenue in unpaid taxes. According to a letter written by Manungo to Defence secretary Martin Rushwaya, Treasury granted ACF the permission to import 12 million litres of fuel duty-free but instructed the Transport ministry to issue a duty free certificate to ACF despite violating SI 184 of 2014, which describes duty-free fuel as “fuel for the exclusive use of the Government of Zimbabwe, subject to the conditions that:

(a) all fuel importations for use by the Government of Zimbabwe shall be imported solely through the CMED (Private) Limited and;

(b) a duty free certificate under the hand of the Secretary in the ministry responsible for transport is furnished to the commissioner-general certifying that the user ministry or arm of government has authority from the Secretary in the ministry responsible for finance that any duty leviable on such fuel importation would be borne directly by the Government of Zimbabwe”.

Causeway Dam Construction

Chinamasa prioritised the construction of Causeway Dam Construction because it is close to his farm, Lawrencedale Farm. An insider at the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) who spoke to the Financial Gazette in May 2017 said construction work had already started at Causeway Dam, with Chinese firm, China Nanchung, having been paid to expedite the project. The insider said that the dam will not benefit communities but Chinamasa and former Agriculture minister Joseph Made who own farms close to the dam.

In the 2017 National Budget, Chinamasa did not allocate resources to other dam projects across the country, making Causeway Dam the only one to get a vote from the fiscus ahead of other projects such as Kunzvi and Musami dams that have been on the cards for much longer. However when contacted for a comment, Chinamasa denied that the dam would benefit him and Made alone, saying they already have enough water which they are drawing from Speed Dam.

3. Oppah Muchinguri

Corruption Scandal(s): NOCZIM Scandal, VIP Housing Scandal

Details:

NOCZIM Scandal

A 2006 report by Zimoline listed Muchinguri-Kashiri among those accused of diverting fuel to the black market. The outcome of police investigations and prosecution efforts were never made public.

VIP Housing Scandal

In 1995, government officials and politicians looted funds contributed by civil servants to ease housing shortages.  The ‘pay for your house scheme’ was shattered when millions of dollars were diverted to build houses for senior government officials. The looting was disguised as loans and the total amount owed was nearly $12 million. Investigations were made by a team of investigators led by S.R.M Hoza, set up by the then Minister of Local Government and National Housing, John Nkomo. A total of 185 senior government officials benefitted from the illegal housing scheme at the expense of genuine beneficiaries. Muchinguri was among those that were implicated 

4. Kembo Mohadi

Corruption Scandal(s): Land Grabbing

Details:

Mohadi has been involved in land grab scandals. Despite already owning vast tracts of farmland, in 2011 Mohadi was accused of gross nepotism after grabbing more land from neighbouring resettled farmers to give to his son and nephew. Mohadi was accused of using a gun to threaten local resettled farmers and villagers with one of the dispossessed farmers telling the Sunday Times Mohadi had seized plots bordering Zvovhe Dam, leaving them landless and without means of  survival. 

In 2010, he was accused by the Commercial Farmers’ Union of being behind an invasion of a lodge on Benlynian Game Ranch, 46km from the South African border. 

5. Simbarashe Mumbengegwi

Corruption Scandal(s): ZISCO Scandal