Correspondent|The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Mangudya has directed his investigations department to immediately institute an audit into the four senior officials suspended earlier this week on allegations of corruption.
The senior managers have already surrendered central bank assets such as vehicles, laptops and access cards to pave way for investigations.
In a press statement released Thursday afternoon, the central bank chief said that an audit and oversight committee would look into graft allegations submitted by Acie Lumumba against the suspended employees.
“Further to the press statement issued on 23 October 2018, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe of Zimbabwe (the “Bank”) wishes to advise members of the public that the Bank’s Board of Directors is seized with the matter and has directed its Audit and Oversight Committee to urgently look into the issues.
“The Committee has been tasked to immediately work in conjunction with external auditors and other stakeholders to investigate the matter. Upon conclusion of the investigations, the Public will be appraised of the outcome in the interest of transparency and good governance,” read part of the statement.
On Sunday, Lumumba made startling allegations on micro blogging site Facebook where he accused the central bank’s head of supervision Norman Mataruka, director financial markets Azvinandawa Saburi, director financial intelligence Mirirai Chiremba and head of security Gresham Muradzikwa of various crimes ranging from off-the-books bond notes circulation to corrupt allocation of foreign currency.
Although his claims resulted in the suspension of the four officials, Lumumba was fired from his position as the head of Communication Taskforce by Finance Mthuli Ncube after just three days at the helm of the taskforce..
In a letter gleaned by this publication, Ncube reversed Lumumba’s appointment suggesting it may have been inappropriate.
“On the 19th of October 2018 you were engaged by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development as the Chairman of the Ministry Communications Taskforce.
“New information has come to light over the appropriateness of the appointment. This letter serves as a notification of the termination of the contract with immediate effect,” wrote Ncube.
M&T