By Delicious Mathuthu
Kwekwe, Zimbabwe – The Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA) has urged Zimbabwean authorities to take decisive action in investigating the alleged widespread corruption in the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) involving US$40 million, linked to the 2023 Zimbabwean elections.
This also comes as exiled former Zimbabwe cabinet Minister, Dr. Walter Mzembi, alleged that the ruling ZANU-PF party is caught between a rock and a hard place, struggling to address the scandals threatening its very existence.
ACT-SA Director, Obert Chinhamo, expressed profound concern over the allegations, stating that “the size of the loss suffered, the involvement of high-profile persons, and how prices for the supply of electoral material were allegedly inflated to fatten the pockets of the individuals and companies involved is a matter of grave concern.”
Dr. Mzembi, in a series of tweets, exposed the magnitude of the alleged scandals, including the $87 million Goat-gate scandal and $9 million Toilet-gate scandals, involving the same players from different factional groupings within the ruling party.
He questioned the party’s ability to address the scandals, given their involvement in the saga.
Both Chinhamo and Mzembi emphasized the need for thorough investigations, asset forfeiture, and prosecution of those implicated.
“…decisive and transparent action would serve as a powerful deterrent to those who engage in corrupt practices,” Chinhamo stressed, while Mzembi warned that the scandals could exceed the proportions of the yesteryear Willowgate scandal.
The calls for action come as the Emmerson Mnangagwa led Zimbabwean government declared zero tolerance to corruption.
ZEC is embroiled in a corruption scandal involving the alleged theft of US$40 million meant for the supply of electoral material for the 2023 general elections.
The scandal, dubbed “ZEC-gate,” involves controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo, and his associates, Mike Chimombe, Moses Mpofu and other top politically exposed persons, who are accused of inflating prices for the supply of electoral material and bribing those making the decisions.
The Goat-gate scandal, more-so, involves Chimombe and Mpofu, who were contracted by the Zimbabwe government to supply goats for the US$88 million Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme.
They are facing fraud charges for allegedly forging documents and misrepresenting their company’s compliance status.
Allegations against the Chimombe and Mpofu also are that they received US$40 million from Treasury to supply goats meant to support underprivileged households across the country.
They allegedly did not deliver the goats as agreed and converted the funds for personal use, buying luxurious houses and cars.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) launched investigations and the two were arrested.
The State allegations currently are that the accused only supplied a total of 4,208 goats valued at US$331,445 and misappropriated US$7,380,751 for personal use.
