POLICE in Harare have reportedly arrested the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) chief executive officer Ngonidzashe Gumbo over alleged corruption.
REPORT BY EVERSON MUSHAVA
Gumbo, who was withdrawn from Zacc under unclear circumstances by Home Affairs co-minister Kembo Mohadi last Friday, is reported to have been arrested on Tuesday on charges of abusing funds meant for the acquisition of the commission’s headquarters in Mt Pleasant. But police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba denied reports of Gumbo’s arrest.
“No one has been arrested from the commission. I suspect that the people are just running away from police because they feel they have something to answer,” Charamba said.
It is also understood that Zacc general manager for prevention and corporate governance Edwin Mubataripi and finance manager Gibson Mangwiro were called for questioning by police on Wednesday and released while the commission’s general manager for investigations Sukai Tongogara was summoned yesterday.
It could, however, not be established whether she was released or detained in police custody.
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Tongogara, the daughter of liberation war icon Josiah Magama Tongogara, allegedly went into hiding last Friday following reports that police were looking for her.
Zacc spokesperson Goodwill Shana yesterday confirmed receiving reports of the questioning of the commission’s managers, but declined to give further details.
But NewsDay understands that the corruption charges levelled against the top Zacc officials related to the alleged misappropriation of funds released by Treasury for the purchase of the commission’s offices.
According to impeccable sources, Gumbo and his colleagues received $1,5 million from Treasury in 2010 for the purchase of the headquarters. They transferred the money into their own company named Property Mortgage.
“When the money was finally released, only $1,1 million could be accounted for,” the source said.
“They allegedly took the money . . . before current commissioners were appointed.”
The current commissioners led by Denford Chirindo was appointed by President Robert Mugabe on September 11, 2011.