News

Zimbabwe tourism minister arrested by new anti-corruption agency

Zimbabwe’s minister of tourism Prisca Mupfumira has been held for questioning by a newly-constituted anti-corruption commission. She  was arrested on July 25 over alleged corruption charges while at the helm of National Social Security Authority (NSSA).

Prisca Mupfumira is the first senior government official to be held by the commission which was overhauled by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on July 15.

“We can confirm that the minister of tourism is currently in our custody for questioning and possible due processes,” the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) said in a brief statement on Thursday. It did not give any details.

According to Zimbabwean laws, a suspect must appear in court within 48 hours after his or her arrest.

A Zimbabwean independent parliamentarian for Norton Constituency, Temba Mliswa, has been recently on record accusing Mupfumira of stealing and misusing NSSA funds which she allegedly used to exert her influence on several politicians in her governing party, the Zimbabwe Africa National Union Patriotic Front.

In one of the tweets, Mliswa said, “I heard Hon Mupfumira on the radio saying that there are outside people who are trying to infiltrate ZANU PF.”

”This is a deflection of issues. There are no outsiders, she is doing the handiwork in destroying ZANU PF in Mashwest herself! Using stolen NSSA funds, she’s buying Abby Gava, Munondo and Nduna. The Chinhoyi School is not Mutisi, it is hers! Let us call for a lifestyle audit on Charles Mutisi. She pays the media in Mash West, using the money of poor pensioners,” Mliswa wrote.