ZIMSTAT Director Awards Himself Vehicles, Other Benefits - Report
Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) director general, Taguta Mahonde, is accused of corruptly awarding himself benefits including vehicles.
Mahonde is said to have used his influence to take government vehicles, and award himself school fee allowances for his children at the taxpayer’s expense, ZimLive reported.
According to ZimLive, the ZIMSTAT director general was a regular recipient of a package of school fees allowances, vehicles and an array of other benefits.
Internal sources said the government department’s senior official was not producing receipts and invoices to acquit the funds as prescribed by protocols.
What Mahonde is alleged to have taken:
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1). A Toyota Land Cruiser which he bought for US$300. It is further alleged that a letter signed by the Central Mechanical Equipment Department (CMED) managing director, Davison Mhaka, authorised the disposal of the Toyota Land Cruiser that was originally priced US$28 000 to Mahonde for just US$300 before he was gifted another luxury vehicle.
2). A Land Rover Discovery which he acquired in 2021.
By obtaining two vehicles in a span of five years, Mahonde allegedly violated government principles and protocols.
3). Mahonde allegedly requested school fees allowances in US dollars, for the 2023 first term. This is despite the fact that all employees at Zimstat are paid in ZWL currency.
4). On 21 December 2022, Mahonde allegedly acquired a “vehicle, number plate, AFB 4305, donated by the United Nations agencies for his personal benefit which is against the law.”
ZmLive reports that last October, Mahonde was accused of working in cahoots with Finance Director Romania Nyahwa to fleece the agency of much-needed resources.
Nyahwa was accused of allocating ZIMSTAT funds and donations to Mahonde and buying him vehicles (vehicle registrations provided).
It is alleged that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe donated some money to purchase 8 vehicles and 150 bikes for the agency operations.
But the Finance Director “misappropriated” the funds on the non-capital expenditure purchase of Mahonde’s SUV Land Rover 4.0 (Reg. AFH 2919) without treasury concurrence.
The Agency is said to have lost 8 vehicles and 150 motorbikes to Mahonde.
