Harare, Zimbabwe – The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has confirmed the arrest of Mr. Ernest Shenje, Deputy Director of the Road Services Division in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, on charges of fraud. The arrest was part of a larger effort to clamp down on corruption in public sector projects in Zimbabwe.
According to ZACC, the allegations involved a fraudulent claim of USD 1,003,417 for property compensation related to the Mbudzi roundabout construction. The roundabout, a key infrastructure development at the junction of Simon Mazorodze, Chitungwiza, and High Glen Roads, has been a focus of recent development efforts.
It was reported that the Investigations have brought to light that Shenje, alongside Levy Idana, who is still at large, and certain legal professionals, allegedly created a fake sale agreement. The agreement erroneously identified Idana as the owner of a property, legally registered under John Maloney’s name. Using this document, they purportedly claimed compensation, falsely stating Idana had acquired the property from Maloney.
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The collusion reportedly led to Idana receiving a payment of USD 200,000, raising serious concerns about the integrity of compensation processes within the Ministry.
ZACC said Shenje is set to appear at the Harare Magistrate Court on January 27, 2024. The case is receiving considerable attention, symbolizing Zimbabwe’s broader struggle against corruption in government operations. It also underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the ZACC in addressing fraudulent activities within public sector projects. The outcome of this case is anticipated to be a critical indicator of the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures in Zimbabwe.
