An investigation by NewsHawks has uncovered a series of upmarket residential properties owned by George Guvamatanga, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance in Zimbabwe, raising serious moral, ethical, and accountability concerns.
As a senior public official closely linked to prominent businesspeople, Guvamatanga’s unexplained wealth and property acquisitions in South Africa have sparked allegations of corruption, especially given his position that involves facilitating payments from the Treasury.
Unexplained Wealth and Allegations of Corruption
The investigation reveals that Guvamatanga owns a vast portfolio of luxury properties in South Africa, specifically in affluent suburbs of Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban.
The properties are owned through various means, including direct ownership, co-ownership, and fronting via relatives and associates. This is in addition to his already extensive property holdings in Harare, including a significant residence in Chisipite and private offices in Ballantyne Park.
In Johannesburg alone, Guvamatanga is found to own 12 properties located in high-end areas such as Dainfern Golf Estate, Fourways, Randburg, and Sandton.
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These properties vary in value, ranging from R720,000 to R6.3 million each. Some are registered under the names of his relatives, a move that raises further questions about the legitimacy and transparency of his financial dealings.
Details of Property Holdings
The properties discovered in Johannesburg include:
- No. 973 Woodchester, Dainfern Golf Estate – Valued at R4.9 million, co-owned with Hazvinei Chawatama.
- 19 Port De Bouc Avenue, Dainfern – Valued at R2.9 million.
- 708 Sandleford Close, Dainfern – Valued at R5.6 million.
- 13 Morena Crescent, Dainfern – Valued at R3 million.
- 13 Via Garibaldi Lane, Piccolo Italia Estate, Kengies – Valued at R1.6 million, registered under Vimbai Guvamatanga.
- 26 Garibaldi Lane, Kengies Ext. 14 – Valued at R1.5 million.
- 7 Dorstone Crescent, Maroeladal Needwood Ext. 5 – Valued at R6.3 million, co-owned by Vimbai Guvamatanga and Evans Kudakwashe Mupandawana.
- Fourways Ext. 253340, sectional title SS Borgo De Felice – Valued at R1.3 million.
- Broadacres, sectional title SS Soho Junction – 628/2017 – Valued at R964,000.
- 435 Cork Avenue, Ferndale – Registered under Munyoro Guvamatanga and Sharon Tsitsi Taenzanisa Guvamatanga, valued at R720,000.
- Glenferness, sectional title – Valued at R850,000.
- Another Glenferness property, sectional title – Valued at R850,000.
The opulent Dainfern Golf Estate, located northeast of Johannesburg, is known for its luxury homes, top-tier golf courses, clubhouses, and extensive amenities, making it a haven for the wealthy. Guvamatanga’s preference for properties in this estate highlights his access to significant financial resources, which appear inconsistent with his public service income.
Failure to Declare Assets
In January 2018, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office issued a directive requiring ministers and senior civil servants to declare their assets, including both immovable and movable property valued at over US$100,000. This order applied to a wide range of government officials, including ministers, their deputies, permanent secretaries, senior principal directors, and executives of state enterprises, parastatals, local authorities, and constitutional commissions.
Despite this directive, most government officials have either failed to declare their assets or have provided false information in their declarations. Guvamatanga’s significant property portfolio in South Africa, combined with his apparent failure to declare these assets or adequately explain their acquisition, suggests a disregard for these regulations and raises serious questions about the integrity of asset declaration processes among Zimbabwe’s senior public officials.
Ethical and Accountability Implications
Guvamatanga’s extensive property holdings and the opaque nature of their acquisition raise profound ethical and accountability issues.
As a high-ranking official in charge of the nation’s finances, his proximity to top businesspeople and his role in facilitating payments from the Treasury put him in a position of significant power and influence.
The lack of transparency around his wealth raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest, abuse of office, and corruption.
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