By Lloyd Takawira
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is set to investigate controversial businessman and President Mnangagwa’s advisor, Kudakwashe Tagwirei who is accused of state capture amongst a litany of charges by the Sentry report published in July.
Earlier this year, human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, informed by the Sentry report wrote to the Zimbabwe Anti-corruption Commission seeking that the commission investigate the business tycoon.
ZACC has acknowledged that it is in receipt of Mtetwa’s letter to them enclosing the Sentry Organization’s report exposing grand-scale corruption by Kuda Tagwirei.
“We acknowledge receipt of a letter dated 07 July 2021 on the above matter SHADOWS AND SHELL GAMES. A REPORT ON CORRUPTION IN ZIMBABWE. Please be advised that the matter has been referred to the relevant department for investigations,” reads the letter.
Tagwirei whose vast business empire involves more than 40 companies which the Sentry Organizations report allege is hidden from the public eye is accused of state capture. The report argues that it is through State capture which has enabled him to bleed the country’s economy through cronyism and cadrism.
The Sentry report also alleges that, “Mr Tagwirei used complex corporate structures to build and hide his wealth, potentially benefiting from preferential government treatment along the way”.
“In 2019, Tagwirei paid millions of dollars to a Zimbabwean military-owned company so that Landela Mining Ventures, a company he controlled, could purchase 50% of Great Dyke Investments (GDI), a platinum mine worth hundreds of millions and run as a joint venture with a Russian firm. The payment raises fears about off-budget financing of Zimbabwe’s abusive and partisan military.”
Commenting on the acknowledgement letter by the Zimbabwe Anti-corruption Commission, human rights lawyer, Doug Coltart said since the corruption watchdog organization is in receipt of the Sentry report it must investigate.
“Now they can’t say they didn’t know!”
Zimbabwe government has for long been accused of being run by a select group of politicians, the military, and businesspeople who dominate government decision-making with little oversight or scrutiny.
