A report by The Standard claims that it has discovered a link between a company accused of helping Zanu-PF rig 2013 elections and payments made by the government in 2014 and 2015.
The report claims that documents show that the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe was used to make the payments to companies linked to Nikuv. The payments were made by the former Mines and Mining Development ministry permanent secretary Francis Gudyanga.
Gudyanga is in court for a corruption case where he accused of misappropriating $1.6 million. The money was however paid to companies linked to Nikuv.
The Mines and Mining Development ministry apparently tried to keep the matter from public platforms such as courts. On 17 May 2017 then minister Walter Chidhakwa filed an affidavit which contained the following:
Discussions in the matter relating to payments made by the MMCZ to Pedstock at the instruction of the permanent secretary of the ministry, Professor Francis Gudyanga, affects the security of the State and disclosure of activities funded by this said payments prejudicially affects the security of the State.
More: The Standard