Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Zimeye
Published on 2024-02-18 01:39:44
Fraud at Zimbabwe’s Deeds Office: Priscilla Mushonga Enriched With Dead Man’s Signature
Amid a corruption scandal implicating Ambassador Priscilla Mushonga, the Department of Deeds, Companies, and Intellectual Property in Zimbabwe is undergoing comprehensive reforms in response to allegations of malpractice and corruption. The urgency of these reforms has been underscored by a shocking case involving Ambassador Priscilla Mushonga, who is accused of unlawfully benefiting from her late estranged husband’s estate through the use of a dubious document.
According to reports, Ambassador Mushonga acquired assets worth USD 60,000 from her late husband, Dr. Mushonga’s estate, using a document allegedly signed by him three days after his death. This revelation has raised serious questions about the integrity of operations within the Deeds Office, highlighting a glaring loophole in the system that allowed for such an impossibility, where a deceased individual’s signature appeared on a legal document.
In response to these allegations, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Police Anti-Corruption Unit have launched investigations into this and other complaints concerning the misconduct of officials at the Deeds Office. Mrs. Vimbai Nyemba, the Permanent Secretary of the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, has confirmed that the government has initiated investigations into the records and information unit following allegations of corrupt and fraudulent activities.
As a result of the ambassador’s case and other similar incidents, the government has announced a series of measures designed to reform the department. These measures include staff rotations to prevent collusion, random staff searches, collaborations for ID authentication, and stricter client interviewing procedures for document replacement. The aim of these reforms is to close the gaps exploited by those engaging in fraudulent activities, ensuring transparency and accountability within the department.
Mrs. Nyemba emphasized the department’s commitment to integrity, stating, “These steps are intended to restore public trust and ensure the prevention of any further fraudulent or corrupt activities within the department.”
The scandal involving Ambassador Mushonga not only highlights the need for tighter controls but also puts the spotlight on the broader implications for Zimbabwe’s standing in the global financial community. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has previously raised concerns over the department’s record-keeping practices, which could potentially compromise the country’s listing as a low-risk country for money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
As the government moves forward with these critical reforms, the case of Ambassador Mushonga serves as a stark reminder of the challenges ahead. With a firm commitment to reform and a series of comprehensive measures in place, there is hope for a reformed Deeds Office that operates with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. The nation watches closely as these efforts to cleanse the department of corruption unfold, anticipating a future where such egregious breaches of trust are a thing of the past.
Read the original article on The Zimbabwe Eye
