Speaking
through his lawyer Tungamirai Chakurira following media reports that he is on
the run, Muskwe said he formally left Zimbabwe in February to pursue other
business interests outside the country, adding he will soon be coming back to
clear his name.
Muskwe says he
left his job at IDBZ amicably in December last year, and sees no reason in
running away from the authorities.
He claims the
fraud allegations were likely being raised by people who failed to do their
projects properly.
The former top
banker is being accused of siphoning more than US$8 million from the bank in
connivance with contractors on the bank’s flagship Bulawayo students
accommodation project.
Muskwe told
NewsDay Live that he was shocked by recent media reports alleging that he went
into hiding after being interrogated was alongside other IDBZ executives in August this year.
He said
contrary to the claims, he has not
spoken to anyone from the police or the bank after leaving his employ in
December 2024, and was last in Zimbabwe on February 3 this year.
"I was
never interrogated and never contacted. Unless there is another Muskwe they are
talking of. I left Zimbabwe on the 3rd February and until now I have not
returned home," Muskwe said through his lawyer.
"I
categorically deny every allegations. If someone claiming that can present
proof of a written transaction, that would help, otherwise, anyone can say
anything against someone.
"If these
allegations are true, why was the complainant silent for months or years?
Issues should have been reported as they occurred. There are many channels for
reporting, such as police, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), IDBZ,
and even government offices. Tangible evidence is necessary, not a false claim
meant to tarnish my reputation.
"I suspect
these are individuals who failed the project and were either fired or removed
from the site," Muskwe said.
Muskwe said the
appointment of suppliers was not solely responsibility of the managing director
but the process involved consultants and contractors.
"lt was a
collective effort, not a one-person task. My role as managing director was to
approve contracts, recommend to the board for price adjustments, and
authorisation of payments.
"The
process of engagement of service providers, agreeing on prices and payment
processes, was not done at my level. The quantity surveyor was the first point
(of call) after the contractor, and the last was finance, and I do not believe
that all the people in the process were just ignoring or scared to reveal the
happenings during the duration of five years.
"This was
a supply and delivery contract awarded to Hualong and they were in charge of
hiring sub-contractors and suppliers. Hualong was recieving payments and then
pay subcontractors. Approval of payments was not a single person task,it was a
chain, and eight-level process flow.
"There was
involvement of contractor, quantity surveyor, consultant, architect/lead
consultant, managing director, accounts, procurement director, and finance-
Payment," Muskwe said.
The Bulawayo
Student Accommodation Complex was launched in 2019 with a US$12 million budget
and commissioned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa last year.
The costs
eventually ballooned to nearly US$17,5 million, officially due to design
changes and inflationary pressures.
However,
according to recent media reports, police suspect part of the increase was
engineered to mask fraud.
Muskwe said the
reasons for costs to balloon were as a result of poor planning at the initial
stages over land compliance issues.
He said when
they joined the project, it had a variance of US$314 000 due to poor planning.
He added that the IBDZ website carries a public document clearly stating issues
and challenges faced by the project.
Muskwe also
laughed off allegations that he acquired over 28 properties using money stolen
from his former employer.
"The claim
of 28 properties is lie that must be dismissed. There is no such, when I joined
the bank l was coming from United Nations where I was working in Palestine,
Israel, Syria and Afghanistan. Even if you are to combine the number of rooms
for all my properties including doors and windows combined , they will not
reach that number," Muskwe said.
The former
banking executive said he was surprised that even the properties he bought
before his employment with the bank were flagged as proceeds of crime.
"I am
shocked to find out that some of my properties, which I bought in 2007, is
being attached to allegations that is really unfounded and leave a lot to be
desired.
"Someone
needs to tell me if I have to explain all my acquisitions even before joining
the then-employer," Muskwe said. Newsday
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