THE Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) yesterday suspended acting group chief executive officer Allan Chiweshe and general manager (news and current affairs) Tazzen Mandizvidza on allegations of acts of misconduct that prejudiced the group of over $7 million.
PAIDAMOYO MUZULU SENIOR REPORTER
ZBC made the suspension based on a KPMG Chartered Accountants forensic audit of the group’s financial affairs following the suspension of chief executive Happison Muchechetere in November last year.
ZBC board chairman Gibson Munyoro confirmed the development.
“Acting chief executive officer Allan Chiweshe and general manager (news and current affairs) Tazzen Mandizvidza, have also been suspended as part of the probe,” Munyoro said in a statement.
Munyoro in the same statement said ZBC has started disciplinary hearings against Muchechetere and four other executives which would be chaired by a retired High Court judge.
The other executives are Chiweshe, Mandizvidza, general manager finance Elliot Kasu and head of finance Ralph Nyambudzi.
“The ZBC board has set up a hearing tribunal chaired by retired judge Justice James Devitte,” Munyoro said. “The board has also engaged the services of advocate Mr Mazonde, Mr I Murewa and Ms Magundani of Scanlen and Holderness to handle the proceedings on its behalf.”
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Munyoro further stated that the KPMG report had established that Muchechetere allegedly profited in excess of $3,5 million through abuse of office from January 1 2009 until December 31 2013.
“Muchechetere was a collusive leader and partner in the fraud and said all those who will be found wanting will be brought to account,” Munyoro said.
Muchechetere is also facing criminal charges in the court for breaching procurement laws when he signed an agreement for the purchase of an outside broadcasting van from China. The matter has since been referred to the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) after Muchechetere’s lawyers raised an exception to the charges. The ConCourt was still to hear the matter.
Meanwhile, the board has appointed acting head of finance and corporate services Patrick Mavhura as acting chief executive officer and Chris Chivinge, acting head radio services, as acting general manager (news and current affairs) with immediate effect.
