Don Makanyanga
CheckPoint Desk
Binga Rural District Council (BRDC) chief executive officer Joshua Muzamba is reportedly on the run and has been absent from work for several days as investigations into an alleged US$256 405 corruption scandal involving a Government-funded fishing rig project intensify.
Binga North legislator Chineka Muchimba has also reportedly been summoned to appear at the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) offices on Friday, while BRDC executive officer for Social Services Lovemore Siamuyi was arrested on November 10 and is being held at Binga Police Station over the same matter.
Siamuyi is expected to appear before the Binga Magistrates Court on November 12 for initial remand.
The three are implicated in an alleged scheme involving the diversion of funds intended for the construction of 21 fishing rigs under a Government-funded project introduced in 2021 through the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC).
The rigs, initially valued at approximately US$12 000 each, were allegedly overpriced to US$26 000 per unit.
The complainants, Lweendo Ndulamfu Fisheries (Pvt) Ltd, Twiite Cooperative Society and Zangalili Better Investments, allege that they suffered prejudice amounting to US$256 405 after funds meant for their entities were allegedly diverted.
According to sources BRDC had been instructed by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to identify contractors to manufacture the fishing rigs.
However, Muzamba allegedly approached Muchimba, who was involved in rig manufacturing, and tasked him with sourcing suppliers instead of following formal procurement procedures.
The project was allegedly neither subjected to competitive tendering nor granted an exemption by the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ).
Muchimba subsequently approached the complaining companies, claiming he had been assigned by central Government to coordinate the project and facilitate the awarding of contracts.
In September 2021, representatives of the companies travelled to Harare, where they reportedly received US$15 250 each as inital payments for constructing five rigs.
Muchimba also received US$30 500 on behalf of two companies in which he was reportedly a co-director.
The companies were instructed to undertake the work collectively at premises belonging to Muchimba.
The dispute allegedly arose when Muchimba told the contractors that project funds would be channelled through his personal Nostro account because the companies did not have such accounts. They were subsequently persuaded to sign affidavits authorising the arrangement.
On October 18, 2021, the OPC allegedly released US$76 250 to Muchimba for distribution among the contractors. However, he is accused of retaining the money for personal use.
Siamuyi allegedly compounded the situation by writing to the OPC claiming that the companies had received their payments.
The complainants were later informed that they had been disqualified from the project over alleged documentation irregularities.
On November 3, 2021, Muchimba and Muzamba allegedly approached the OPC for additional payments, claiming the contractors had been underpaid. A further US$56 750 was reportedly released to Muchimba, who is accused of withholding the money.
It is further alleged that on March 3, 2023, OPC employee Mr Paul Mutunzi deposited US$123 405 into Muchimba’s AFC Commercial Bank foreign currency account for onward distribution to the companies.
The complainants later approached the OPC and were reportedly informed that their contracts remained valid and that payments had continued to be made to Muchimba on their behalf.
They subsequently lodged a complaint with ZACC in July 2026.
When contacted for comment, ZACC spokesperson Ms Simiso Mlevu said the commission could not disclose details while investigations were ongoing.
“We are not in a position to share any details at the moment because the matter is still under investigation,” said Ms Mlevu.
