ZINARA Director & Deputy Suspended Over Corruption Allegations

Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) finance director, Simon Taranhike and his deputy Anyway Mudodo, who are under investigation on allegations of criminal abuse of office and attempts to conceal corruption, have been suspended from duty with immediate effect.

Zinara board chairperson Engineer Michael Madanha said that the pair was suspended yesterday pending disciplinary action. Madanha said:

They were (recently) picked up by the police for investigations and these are centred on fuel coupons that are alleged to have been misappropriated. And therefore the procedure is to suspend them and institute disciplinary measures. I haven’t seen the suspension letters, but I have been reliably informed that there are some suspension letters for the two.

Reports have revealed that Taranhike was arrested on Monday and handed to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) for further investigations for allegedly releasing 1 800 litres of fuel to some members of the local media and abusing the parastatal’s petty cash.

ZINARA has become synonymous with corruption as Ms Mujokoro and former audit manager Mr Shadreck Matengabadza resigned last month while 19 employees were arrested for fraud cases involving over US$210 000.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Joel Biggie Matiza recently appointed a new board for Zinara chaired by Eng Madanha to deal with the rot at the parastatal.

More: The Herald