Minister fired over graft scandal

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has fired Tourism Minister Prisca Mupfumira after she was detained over the disappearance $94m during her time as Welfare Minister. Mupfumira is facing seven corruption charges linked to the funds which are missing from the country's pension fund. The issue was highlighted in a damning National Social Security Authority forensic audit report. According News24, Mupfumira was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission in July, becoming the first sitting Minister of the ruling Zanu-PF party to be jailed for graft under Mnangagwa's new administration. Mnangagwa has identified endemic graft as a major contributor to the country's economic woes and has vowed to root it out. Zanu-PF spokesman Simon Khaya Moyo told TimesLIVE that the anti-graft crusade would not spare anyone found on the wrong side of the law. ‘The President does not owe anyone protection. If people assisted him (in his rise to power) thinking that they will receive protection for their corruption antics, they are mistaken. No one joined Zanu-PF to be corrupt. All corrupt heavyweights will be arrested,’ he said. The Sunday Times last week reported that some senior Zanu-PF officials had sought legal counsel in anticipation of ZACC raids.

– TimesLIVE

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