The Zimbabwean government has maintained a deafening silence following explosive revelations that nearly US$400,000 in taxpayer funds was spent on luxury renovations for the private residence of Senate President Mabel Chinomona.
The expenditure, which bypassed mandatory legal procurement channels, has sparked outrage as the country grapples with economic challenges, yet official corridors of power remain tight-lipped.
Audit Unmasks Procurement Law Breaches
An investigation spearheaded by CITE, corroborated by Auditor-General Reah Kujinga’s 2023 and 2024 reports, exposed a pattern of “handpicked” suppliers and ignored bidding thresholds. According to the audit, Parliament processed at least five payments exceeding US$20,000 without inviting competitive bids—a direct violation of Zimbabwean procurement laws.
Key Financial Red Flags Highlighted by the Auditor-General:
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US$116,000: Spent on demolishing and rebuilding a perimeter wall at Chinomona’s Borrowdale home.
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US$72,795: Allocated for high-end kitchen appliances, including refrigerators and washing machines.
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US$64,000: Used for curtains throughout the property, including staff quarters.
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US$60,587: Burned on bedroom upgrades, beds, and luxury bedding.
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US$57,874: Spent on “ornamental” items such as chandeliers, lampshades, and decorative vases.
The “Artistic” Defense Rejected
In a move that has been described as an attempt to justify the unjustifiable, Parliament defended the direct procurement by claiming suppliers were chosen for “artistic and qualitative reasons.” However, Auditor-General Kujinga flatly rejected this excuse, warning that bypassing open competition not only restricts fairness but creates a massive risk of uneconomic procurement and the potential abuse of public funds.
Secrecy and Resistance in Parliament
The scandal has also hit the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Chalton Hwende (MP for Kuwadzana East). When senior parliamentary officials were summoned to explain the discrepancies, they reportedly resisted the summons.
When they eventually appeared, officials demanded the exclusion of the media, citing “sensitive data”—a move critics view as an attempt to shield high-ranking individuals from public scrutiny.
A Culture of Excess?
The audit trail didn’t stop at Chinomona’s doorstep. The 2024 report further revealed that senior staff in Speaker Jacob Mudenda’s office have been allocating themselves fuel significantly above authorized limits, suggesting a wider culture of administrative indiscipline within the legislative body.
Both Senate President Mabel Chinomona and the Clerk of Parliament, Kennedy Chokuda, have declined to comment on the findings. This refusal to engage, coupled with the executive’s silence, has left the public wondering if there will be any accountability for the blatant disregard of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act.
As the scandal continues to brew, the lack of a government response sends a worrying signal regarding the commitment to “zero tolerance” for corruption within the upper echelons of the state.
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