The National Social Security Authority (Nssa) has sacked its acting general manager (GM) Hashmon Matemera who is facing charges of conniving with Chinese nationals to facilitate the externalisation of over $300 million.
In a staff announcement released yesterday, Nssa said while the allegations in question occurred before Matemera’s time as Nssa acting GM, the pensions and social security body wanted to allow the former BancABC boss space to deal with the matter.
“In order to enable Matemera the space and time to deal fully with the allegations, he has been relieved (with immediate effect) from his duties as acting GM of Nssa.
“In the interim, Henry Chivova (the current director of benefits) will with immediate effect act as the GM of the authority,” Nssa said.
In the statement, Nssa said it had also noted allegations in the media and the court processes in the Matemera case.
“It is important to note that these allegations, which are presented to the relevant authorities, relate to a period before Matemera’s appointment to the Nssa board.”
Matemera, 52, appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe on Tuesday charged with contravening the Exchange and Control Act, particularly externalisation, but was released on $10 000 bail with the court ordering him to surrender $250 000 as surety.
The former BancABC boss was appointed as acting Nssa GM last year after the authority embarked on a major top management shake-up that resulted in the departure of former GM James Matiza and five bigwigs, who were all accused of misappropriating funds.
While his term at the authority was supposed to end on March 31, 2016, the Nssa board extended all acting appointments as it continued hunting for new management.-state media