The Zimbabwe Media Commission has dismissed its executive secretary, Godwin Phiri, and principal director, Academy Bvumayi Chinamhora, following disciplinary proceedings linked to an alleged fuel diversion scheme uncovered through multiple audit inquiries.
Sources familiar with the matter told Zim Now that the dismissals were the outcome of hearings conducted by a high-level disciplinary tribunal. The tribunal relied on findings from three separate audit processes: an internal inquiry, a verification audit, and a final special external audit carried out by a private consultant.
The audits reportedly uncovered irregularities involving the disappearance of fuel coupons, falsified financial transactions, and weak internal controls. The losses are believed to have amounted to nearly 80,000 litres of fuel, valued at more than US$150,000, supplied under a Petrotrade arrangement between January 2023 and August 2024.
The external audit report has since been forwarded to the Office of the Auditor-General, the police, the National Prosecuting Authority, and the Office of the President and Cabinet for further action.
A majority of ZMC commissioners pushed for the special audit and subsequently supported disciplinary measures against senior management and other implicated employees.
Outgoing ZMC chairperson, Dr. Ruby Magosvongwe, declined to confirm the dismissals directly, but acknowledged that disciplinary processes were underway.
“I would just say that there are disciplinary measures that are in process,” she told NewsHub.
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However, internal sources confirmed that Phiri and Chinamhora have not been reporting for duty for several weeks. Despite this, they are alleged to still be in possession of commission-issued assets, including vehicles and mobile phones.
Their refusal to comply with the tribunal’s outcome is reportedly backed by some senior government officials and commissioners who are believed to have benefited from fuel allocations during the 2023 election period.
When contacted, Chinamhora dismissed the matter outright, saying, “There is no disciplinary process that was done,” before ending the call. Efforts to obtain comment from Phiri were unsuccessful.
Phiri, along with several former and current ZMC employees — including former chief accountant Tafadzwa Chikwiti, administration manager Mercy Hondo, and administration officer Revai Madire — has already appeared in court. The matter is expected to return before a Harare magistrate on 20 November for trial scheduling.
Other staff members named in the audits include former senior accountant Petros Dhokwani and ex-driver Roma Tawanda Hlomai.
According to audit findings, Phiri assumed the role of executive secretary on 1 January 2023 — the same period during which the alleged fuel losses began — succeeding Chinamhora, who had been acting in the role since the departure of former head, Dr. Tafataona Mahoso, in March 2022.
The external audit report notes that Phiri, as accounting officer, was responsible for safeguarding public resources, while Chinamhora was expected to provide oversight in line with the Public Finance Management Act — duties both men are alleged to
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