Ministers ordered to repay millions

Philemon Jambaya

Zim Now Editor

In a groundbreaking legal victory for transparency and accountability, a Zimbabwean court has ordered two government ministers to repay millions of Zimbabwean dollars they had illegally borrowed from public funds.

 Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo and Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Frederick Shava were found guilty of violating the country’s Public Finance Management Act by borrowing funds from critical social welfare programs without proper authorization.

 The case was brought forth by former opposition legislator Marvellous Kumalo, who argued that the ministers had abused their power by siphoning money from funds intended for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and skilled workers. The court agreed, ruling that the ministers’ actions were unlawful and a breach of public trust.

 The court ordered Moyo and Shava to repay a combined total of over ZWL$200 million to the respective funds. The ministers have been given a 90-day period to return the misappropriated funds.