By Philemon Jambaya| Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities Daniel Garwe’s wife, Sharon Mugabe is allegedly struggling to pay a ZWL $1,4 million loan she demanded from the National Building Society (NBS) without even being a client of the bank.

According to an anonymous statement sent to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission Chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo by NBS Bank junior employees who refused to cite their names for fear of victimization, minister Garwe is accused of trying to force his way to have the bank fund an illegal housing development scheme taking place in Melfort, Goromonzi.

“This anonymous letter serves to inform you of the corruption Hon Minister Daniel Garwe and His Wife Sharon Mugabe perpetrated and are trying to forcibly pepertrate at the nation’s National Building Society Bank and NSSA.

“Honourable Garwe forced himself through his wife Sharon Mugabe into the NBS Bank where they demanded an urgent loan without even being clients of the bank but pressure was that Sharon Mugabe is the minister’s wife and the instruction is she has to get a loan that has to be converted into forex so she could take her father for hospitalisation out of the country.

“Sharon Mugabe was then made to submit a written application on the 18th of June 2020. Upon verification, to process the application, the Chief Finance Officer Ethel Chitanda rejected the loan application citing some irregularities.

“She highlighted that Sharon Mugabe was a new client who had just submitted her account opening forms and no traceable history, also her credit rating outside the bank was poor and the bank had no provision for such a loan at that time.

“However, when Minister Garwe asked who rejected his wife’s loan and found out it was Ethel, he influenced that she be fired and that was done immediately on the 19th of June 2020 for disapproving the minister’s wife loan. This forced those who remained to immediately approve the loan and, the value of the loan was 1,4 million Rtgs at that point in time.

“So imagine Sharon Mugabe Garwe was not even a client of NBS. Instead she applied to open a bank account and applied for a bank loan the same day. This type of behavior leaves many Zimbabweans with unanswered questions when gross abuse of office is being done with those who try to portray a good image to the nation yet they are actual criminals in action.

“Approving Z$1,4 million on the pensioners monies leaves a lot to be desired especially to Sharon Mugabe Garwe who the bank had rated unsuitable for the loan because of her creditworthiness. Pensioners are struggling with their small amounts of pension, but when Z$1,4 million is given to Sharon Mugabe Garwe just for being minister’s wife then thus a clear indication of the said corruption.” Highlighted the letter.

This publication is reliably informed that ZACC has since swooped on some NBS employees who were involved in the release of the loan for questioning.

Reliable sources told this publication that Muagabe has since paid ZWL500 000 and she is struggling to pay the remainder.

Contacted for comment Mugabe did not respond to questions send to her.