
Cde Chombo’s various properties were exposed during the
divorce case with his estranged wife, Marian Mhloyi. In her divorce
application, Ms Mhloyi demanded immovable and movable properties that left many
Zimbabweans wondering how he had managed to acquire such properties other than
through abuse of office.
Ms Mhloyi averred that on top of fixed assets, including a
borehole, generator and cold room, it will be just for Minister Chombo to pay a
monthly maintenance of $2 000 until her death or re-marriage. She also demanded
the court to award her 15 top-of-the range vehicles.
Ms Mhloyi also claimed other properties that included two
Glen View houses, two flats in Queensdale, a property in Katanga Township,
stand number 1037 Mount Pleasant Heights, four Norton business stands, three
Chinhoyi business stands, four Banket business stands, one commercial stand in
Epworth, two residential stands in Chirundu, four commercial stands in Kariba,
one stand in Ruwa, one stand in Chinhoyi, two stands in Mutare, two stands in
Binga, four stands in Victoria Falls and one stand in Zvimba rural.
There were also properties in Chitungwiza (two residential
and two commercial stands), Beitbridge (four stands), 20 stands in Crow Hill,
Borrowdale, 10 stands in Glen Lorne, two flats at Eastview Gardens (B319 and
B320), one flat at San Sebastian Flats in the Avenues, Harare.
There was a property at Number 79 West Road, Avondale; a
Greendale house; Number 36 Cleveland Road, Milton Park; Number 135 Port Road,
Norton; two Bulawayo houses; Number 18 Cuba Road, Mount Pleasant; Number 45
Basset Crescent, Alexandra Park; two Chegutu houses; one Glen Lorne house; two
houses (Victoria Falls); a stand along Simon Mazorodze Road; Norton (one
stand); Avondale (two stands); 365 Beverly House (one stand); Bulawayo (three
stands); Mica Point Kariba (one stand).
Ms Mhloyi further wanted the court to share farming
equipment at New Allan Grange Farm, including three tractors, two new combine
harvesters, two boom sprayers and two engines. She was also seeking an order
compelling Minister Chombo to cede to her shares in the family’s 10 companies,
including Dickest,Hamdinger, Landberry and Track in Security Company.
Ms Mhloyi wanted shares in Mvurwi Mine and hunting safari
lodges in Chiredzi,Hwange,Magunje and Chirundu,as well as properties in South
Africa. Former Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology
Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo also admitted to abusing public
funds, as university and college students suffered.
He even likened himself to Robin Hood, an English folklore
character infamous for robbing the rich to give to the poor. Prof Moyo faced
allegations of defrauding the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) of
nearly $500 000. He was accused of transferring $95 800 from Zimdef to Wishbone
Trading through CABS.
Dr Godfrey Gandawa, Minister Moyo’s deputy, was also
accused of receiving $20 000 through his personal Barclays account after which
he transferred $19 030 to HIB Rajput PL T/A Ace Cycles for 173 bicycles for
Prof Moyo. Dr Gandawa reportedly transferred another $27 550 to SKM Motorcycles
for 10 tri-cycles for Prof Moyo and the balance was withdrawn in cash.
About $107 525 was transferred from Zimdef to Fuzzy
Technologies’ NMB Bank account, of which $5 745 was transferred to Pridham
Investments for Dr Gandawa’s personal furniture. Dr Gandawa also paid for 69
bicycles worth $7 260 for Prof Moyo. He also transferred $12 900 to Wisebone
Trading as capital to finance his personal business and the remainder was
withdrawn in cash.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) was also
investigating a separate case in which Prof Moyo and Dr Gandawa were suspected
of getting Zimdef to release 100 000 litres of diesel worth $118 500, fuel
which was then allegedly diverted to the black market.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing
Minister Saviour Kasukuwere made news headlines for allegedly demanding a $5
million bribe from businessman and property developer Dr Philip Chiyangwa.
The bribe, according to Dr Chiyangwa, was to oil him to
speed up the process of compensating his companies for the urban land that was
compulsorily acquired by the State for settlement. Dr Chiyangwa said he
purchased a total of 1 286 hectares of land at Nyarungu Estates, Stoneridge and
Orda farms from private owners, but Government later compulsorily acquired the
land to accommodate the homeless.
Jetmaster Properties and Sensene Investments — both
subsidiaries of Pinnacle Property Holdings owned by Dr Chiyangwa — contested
the decision until the Supreme Court issued an order for the parties to
negotiate the compensation terms for the land in question.
A deed of settlement was filed with the court allocating
the land to Pinnacle Property Holdings. Pinnacle, according to the agreement,
would spearhead the development of the land and recover its compensation from
payments from stand occupants.
Dr Chiyangwa claimed that when Minister Kasukuwere assumed
the Local Government, Public Works and National Housing portfolio, the
finalisation of the deals dragged amid demands for the bribe.
While the majority of Zimbabweans were wallowing in
poverty, Minister Kasukuwere incensed the masses for allegedly constructing a
massive 50-roomed mansion in one of Harare’s leafy suburbs.
The multi-million dollar structure, according to media
reports, was constructed in Glen Lorne. Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, was
also known for a flashy lifestyle, endured public criticism for staying at
Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare with his wife, grandchildren and pets for two years.
He nonchalantly disregarded a public outcry over the abuse
of taxpayer funds. VP Mphoko was last year caught in another storm after he
allegedly forced police to release top Zimbabwe National Road Administration
(Zinara) executives arrested on corruption charges involving over $1 million.
He reportedly stormed Avondale Police Station at night and
demanded the release of acting Zinara chief executive officer Engineer Moses
Juma and board member Davison Norupiri. The two had been arrested for criminal
abuse of office and fraud by ZACC. Herald
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