Magistrate says Minister Chombo has corruption case to answer

By Lance Guma
07 August 2006

On the day Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) Chairman Charles Nherera was convicted on corruption charges, magistrate Lilian Kudya said local government minister Ignatius Chombo also had a case to answer. Last Friday the magistrate blasted Chombo’s evidence in Nherera’s trial as leaving a lot to be desired before she urged the police to ‘dig deeper’ into the case. The case against the ZUPCO chief is that he solicited bribes from South African based Gift Investments for the supply of buses to the state owned company. He would have made at least US$85 000 in kickbacks for the purchase of the buses if he had succeeded.

The high profile case has sucked in Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga, who was formerly the ZUPCO chief. He was arrested a few weeks ago on allegations of soliciting a bribe from Jahesh Shah who was seeking a tender to supply buses. Magistrate Kudya noted in her ruling ‘in essence, in particular the two witnesses’ evidence left a lot to be desired. The court is of the view that if the police were to delve deeper into it, they would be able to get to the bottom of what exactly was happening as regards the purchase of these buses.’ The magistrate accused Chombo of admitting he received a cheque from Shah before trying to cover up by saying he received money from many other companies during his election campaign.

Kudya found Chombo’s evidence was contradictory in that respect. She said: ‘On one hand, he appeared to have been content with ZUPCO getting buses from Mr Shah to ease the transport shortages because he had earlier supplied buses, yet on the other hand, he seemed to be labelling him a liar and unworthy business counterpart.’ Its early days yet but the conviction of Nherera does not bode well for Chombo and Matonga. Observers say the Zanu PF succession battles might be at the centre of all the latest corruption drama with potential foes and friends being subjected to all sorts of exposures depending on influence.

The head of Transparency International (Zimbabwe Chapter) Dr Goodwill Shana says the case is typical of Zimbabwe where you have the small fish getting caught while the big ones walk away. He does not hold out much hope that people like Chombo and Matonga will face justice. Dr Shana bemoaned the devastating impact corruption has on any country’s economy saying this hindered development. Asked whether the cases currently hitting the headlines were linked to the Zanu PF succession dispute or a genuine anti-corruption crusade, Dr Shana said everything in Zimbabwe was now political. Politics was driving the agenda in his view and a genuine political will from the top was needed to arrest corruption.