THE National Social Security Authority (Nssa) has presented its forensic audit which unearths corruption and names individuals implicated in the pensions fund’s latest scandals to the Office of the President and Cabinet, setting the stage for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to act, if he will at all.
Nssa is a US$1.2 billion statutory pension fund. It has 109 properties across the country. The current Nssa forensic audit was done by AMG Global Chartered Accountants (Zimbabwe).
It focuses on a wide scope of corruption issues, ranging from corporate governance, abuse of office and power, and self-aggrandisement at the expense of struggling poor pensioners.
Some of the critical issues involved include fraudulent property deals and acquisitions, abuse of office and duty, company vehicles, foreign trips and holiday allowances.
Nssa board members last year reportedly flew to Kenya — paying themselves huge allowances — for a week-long training workshop that could have been held locally to save money as pensioners continue to receive peanuts and wallow in poverty.
However, the elephant in the room is Public Service minister Paul Mavima’s US$400 000 Borrowdale house scandal which is part of the audit report, further providing evidence to a story first written by The NewsHawks.
The house involved is Stand No. 218 Lot A1 in Quinnington.
There is also the Kariba property scandal emanating from another fraudulent transaction by Nssa involving a commercial property in Kariba valued at US$220 000.
The property was bought for US$215 000 after negotiations, but US$244 000 was paid. In fact, US$240 000 was paid after charges. This means US$25 000 was siphoned.
At one point, Nssa officials claimed it was valued at US$360 000.
When other costs were added, the price went up to US$252 631.59.
Since Nssa usually pays round figures, US$300 000 was paid. The balance was purportedly directed to its investment account.
Nssa investments director Brian Murewa is on the run over those issues. He has escaped to South Africa.
The minister’s scandal has cast doubts about Mnangagwa’s seriousness in fighting corruption.
In the aftermath of Al Jazeera’s Gold Mafia investigative documentary which implicated Mnangagwa together with his key aides and business cronies, the Nssa corruption issue puts the President into a new spotlight over his now increasingly discredited anti-corruption drive.
Mnangagwa’s critics say he should now admit — today, not tomorrow — that his so-called war on corruption is evidently not serious and hypocritical; a waste of people’s time and taxpayers’ funds.
As a result of his own involvement in some cases of corruption such as Gold Mafia and his ministers’ cases such as Mavima’s, critics say right away the President ought to end his anti-corruption charade and now focus on other things which he can do better.
State agencies such as the police, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and other constitutional bodies have failed to rise to the occasion to investigate high-level corruption.
Nssa, constituted and established in terms of the Nssa Act of 1989, [Chapter 17: 04], is the statutory corporate body tasked by the government to provide social security.
The Act empowers the minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to establish social security schemes for the provision of benefits to all employees.
Nssa is mandated to administer every scheme and fund that is established in terms of this Act, and to advise the minister on all matters on the operations of the schemes and on matters relating to social security generally.
While Nssa is governed by the Nssa Act, two schemes under its administration have their own legislation.
Source: Bulawayo24
In other news-Minister flees angry Zanu PF mob
Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Larry Mavima was on Saturday forced to flee an angry Zanu PF mob that was protesting against alleged rigging of the ruling party’s primary elections in the Gokwe-Chireya constituency.
Mavhima, who was being accompanied by politburo member Daniel Mackenzie Ncube, had told the crowd gathered at Chief Chireya’s homestead that he was sent by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to preach reconciliation after primary polls held in March heavily divided people in the area.
The meeting was meant to cool tempers in the constituency after chaotic primary polls that saw Torerai Moyo being announced the winner despite losing to Jeremiah Ndukulani by 54 votes, according to the ward command center results leaked to NewsDay. Learn more
