The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested Plaxedes Chikutu, the company secretary of state-owned telecoms giant NetOne Pvt Ltd, for allegedly abusing her position to obstruct justice in a high-stakes criminal probe.
Chikutu stands accused of deliberately mismanaging the suspension and later orchestrating the reinstatement of two employees—Billing Engineer Anotida Munyaradzi and Brand Officer Linda Mutemeri—who were under investigation for hacking into NetOne’s internal systems and engaging in financial misconduct.
In July 2024, Chikutu reportedly bypassed standard protocol by suspending the employees without involving NetOne’s Human Resources or Loss Control departments.
This unilateral action violated internal procedures and raised red flags within the organization. Her actions effectively shielded the suspects from proper oversight during a critical phase of the investigation.
Despite their suspension, the employees were allowed to retain their company laptops—devices central to the alleged hacking—after Chikutu reportedly issued a directive preventing their surrender.
One of the laptops was subsequently wiped clean, allegedly on Chikutu’s instruction, resulting in the destruction of potentially key evidence in an active police investigation.
Rather than supporting the investigation, Chikutu is alleged to have undermined it further in January 2025 by recommending the reinstatement of the same employees, along with the payment of back salaries.
She cited procedural flaws in the original suspension—flaws that stemmed from her own improper handling of the process.
Chikutu is now facing charges of obstructing justice and abusing her authority, and is expected to appear before the Rotten Row Magistrates Court in Harare on Wednesday.
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