Mining Officials Arrested for Extortion Denied Bai...

Mining Officials Arrested for Extortion Denied Bail

Zim Now Writer

Two Mines officials, Junior Mudyawabikwa and Robson Farayi Chinanayi, have been denied bail after their arrest for allegedly soliciting a bribe in exchange for facilitating the issuance of a mining certificate.

The incident, according to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, involved the officials demanding a USD$5 000 bribe from an applicant. The applicant, however, reported the incident to Zacc, leading to an investigation and the subsequent arrest of the officials.

Mudyawabikwa and Chinanayi were remanded in custody until March 8, 2024.

This event highlights the persistent issue of corruption within the Zimbabwean mining sector. Zimbabwe scored 24/100 against the regional average of 33/100 according to the Corruption Perception Index released by the Transparency International Zimbabwe this year.

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

While the government has established a special anti-corruption unit within the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to address these issues, critics argue that more needs to be done to effectively combat this deeply entrenched problem.