Attempt To "Bribe" Mnangagwa, Chiwenga Fails
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is investigating executives from the Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe (IDC) who reportedly attempted to “bribe” President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga using fertilisers.
The probe was launched after some disgruntled IDC employees presented a dossier to ZACC of alleged corrupt activities by IDC general manager Winstone Makamure and chairperson Tome that included the flouting of tender procedures.
Makamure and Tome allegedly bought fertilisers without following the due tender process and tried to donate them to Mnangagwa and Chiwenga.
The two IDC executives were allegedly trying to influence the two leaders to give them an audience so that they could defend themselves against corruption allegations levelled against them.
However, Mnangagwa and Chiwenga are said to have refused to entertain Makamure and Tome. Part of the dossier submitted to ZACC reads:
Tome is pushing to be appointed substantive general manager so that he can cover up his shenanigans.
He favours management instead of general staff in terms of salaries and benefits.
Resultantly, the chairman and the general manager are in connivance to ensure that their misdeeds are covered up.
They bought 30 tonnes of fertilisers from (a company named) and donated to HE (Mnangagwa) and VP (Chiwenga) to buy their audience, but both refused to entertain them and just told them to leave the fertilisers in Kwekwe.
They haven’t met them up to now. The company is struggling to pay for the fertiliser up to now.
Anyway Mutambudzi the chief director for presidential communications, on Saturday told The Standard he could not comment on a matter that was under investigation. He said:
We would not want to interfere with the investigations. ZACC can respond to that.
ZACC spokesperson Thandiwe Mlobane confirmed the developments and said the matter was being investigated under case number HCR26/01/23.
ZACC investigators reportedly entered IDC offices on 24 January and served the institution with a warrant of search and seizure.
Makamure and Tome are also accused of abusing power and nepotism.
Contacted for comment by The Standard, Tome said he was in a meeting. He had not responded by the time of going to print.
Makamure also did not respond to questions sent to him by the publication.
