Chronicle Editor
Midlands Bureau
Midlands Provincial Mining Director Tariro Ndhlovu (53) has been arrested by police working with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) for alleged abuse of office.
According to Zacc, in 2014 Ndhlovu presided over a gold mining dispute involving two parties and allegedly favoured one of the parties.
“The complainant appealed to the Minister of Mines who reversed the accused’s ruling.
“The Minister’s ruling was further upheld in 2015 by the High Court which ordered the reinforcement of the complainant’s mining rights,” said Zacc in a statement.
Instead of enforcing the court orders, Zacc alleges that Ndhlovu went on to write letters showing favour to the party he had earlier resolved the dispute in his favour.
“It is suspected that Ndhlovu was conniving with the Ministry’s Lawyer.
Ndhlovu was released into the hands of his lawyer Mr Esau Mandipa of Mutatu and Mandipa legal practice.
“I can confirm that my client was released into my custody whilst the arresting details are proceeding with further investigations,” said Mr Mandipa.
Meanwhile, Zacc said in a statement this week that most cases of graft in 2021 were to do with criminal abuse of duty by public officials while fraud cases came second.
It said it received 1 354 cases in 2021 and of those 697 or 51 percent were to do with criminal abuse of duty while fraud accounted for 31 percent.
“Criminal abuse of duty by public officials continue to dominate reports investigated by Zacc. Of the 1 354 reports received in the year 2021, a total of 697 or 51 percent were to do with criminal abuse of duty.
“Fraud came second at 31 percent. Money laundering is also on the rise,” said the anti-graft commission.
Early this week, Zacc arrested the chief executive officer of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) Meanwell Gudu and the head Human Resources department Tsitsi Murahwa. The duo is being charged with contravening Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Abuse of duty) involving US$2,8 million.
As part of its constitutional duties, Zacc has recovered assets worth over US$25 million from January to date through its asset recovery and forfeiture unit.
The anti-graft body has been granted powers of arrest, powers of search and seizure of assets acquired through ill-gotten wealth hence the many assets being recovered.
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