Ex-Nssa boss Manase sold himself top of the range ...

Ex-Nssa boss Manase sold himself top of the range company vehicle

Suspended NSSA GM Arthur Manase re-elected into RTG board – Nehanda Radio — **Arthur Manase**

Suspended National Social Security Authority boss Arthur Manase was allegedly removed for going against company policy when he bought two top-of-the-range cars valued US$353 000.

Manase was suspended last year in July pending investigations into mismanagement and corruption at the social security authority.

The two cars bought for Manase in violation of company policy are a Mercedes-AMG E53 for US$178 000 and a Land Rover Defender for US$175 000.

As part of the investigations, a forensic audit report has been produced by AMG Global Chartered Accountants Zimbabwe.

Insiders say Nssa bosses are allowed to have one condition-of-service vehicle, but Manase had two, which is not allowed.

Manase transformed one of the cars, the Mercedes-Benz into a loan, trying to regularise the issue after realising that the situation was in violation of internal company policy.

Manase tied himself in knots in the process as yet another irregularity emerged, selling the car to himself irregularly.

“What happened was that Manase was bought two cars by Nssa: A Mercedes-Benz and a Land Rover Defender. That was in violation of company policy and his condition of employment.

“After realising how serious the issue was, he then sought permission from Public Service minister, Paul Mavima, and former chairman Dr Percy Toriro to convert the Mercedes-Benz into a personal loan. This means that he effectively sold himself that car irregularly — it was a case of trying to solve one problem while creating another,” a source said.

He was replaced by Charles Shava, currently Nssa acting general manager who is the substantive Nssa director of occupational safety and health.

As a result of the car scandal, Nssa assistant accountant Erasmus Mavondo was arrested last year and appeared in court on allegations of corruptly awarding Manase a personal loan to buy a car using an undervalued exchange rate.

Mavondo allegedly helped Manase to buy the Mercedes-Benz for ZW$25 351 418.60 instead of ZW$60 251 593.80, which was equivalent to US$178 000.

The money was purportedly given to Manase as a personal loan to regularise a problematic company-cars deal in which he ended up with two condition-of-service vehicles instead of one.

In so doing, Mavondo allegedly prejudiced Nssa of ZW$34 900 175 after converting the US$178 000 using a 31 March 2022 rate of US$1: ZW$142 instead of US$1: ZW$138 as of 21 June 2022.

Manase’s situation was compounded by a house loan of US$600 000 not US$750 000 as widely reported — which he was getting, while he also got a US$2 500 housing allowance.

There was also the issue of a house in Borrowdale which was renovated for him.

The Borrowdale house, No.49A Borrowdale Road, Harare was renovated for him, while he got a housing loan and allowance.

Manase denies the corruption charges and claims he has been exonerated.

Several Nssa executives have been suspended, removed or are under investigation.