Mining Officials Arrested for Extortion in Chinhoy...

Mining Officials Arrested for Extortion in Chinhoyi

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

In a move aimed at curbing corruption within the mining sector, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested two officials for alleged extortion.

Junior Mudyawabikwa, the Deputy Provincial Mining Director for Mashonaland West, and Robson Farayi Chinanayi, a former Surveyor with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, were apprehended Tuesday on accusations of soliciting a bribe of USD$5 000 from an applicant seeking a mining certificate.

The arrest comes amid growing concerns about endemic corruption within Zimbabwe’s mining industry, which has long been plagued by allegations of bribery, illegal activities, and environmental damage. These concerns have been further amplified by recent reports of smuggling and gold price manipulation within the sector.

According to the Zacc statement, the duo allegedly demanded the bribe from the applicant in exchange for facilitating the issuance of the mining certificate. The applicant reported the incident to Zacc, leading to an investigation and subsequent arrest of the officials.

Mudyawabikwa and Chinanayi are expected to appear in Chinhoyi Magistrate Court today, Tuesday, February 20, 2024, to face charges of extortion.

Corruption within the Zimbabwean mining sector has been a persistent issue for many years. Transparency International's 2022 Corruption Perception Index ranked Zimbabwe 140th out of 180 countries, indicating a high level of perceived public sector corruption.

In 2023, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association released a report documenting widespread illegal mining activities and environmental damage caused by unregulated mining practices.

The government has made efforts to address corruption in the mining sector, including establishing a special anti-corruption unit within the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development. However, critics argue that more needs to be done to effectively combat this deeply entrenched problem.