A former Salary Service Bureau paymaster has appeared in court facing fraud charges after allegedly manipulating the government payroll system to unlawfully inflate salaries for himself and 26 other employees, causing a loss of nearly US$40 000 to the Public Service Commission.
Brighton Chiuzingo (59), who served as paymaster between 2010 and 2021, was arraigned before Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo.
He was granted US$200 bail and remanded to June 9 pending finalisation of investigations.
The complainant in the matter is the Public Service Commission, represented by its Secretary, Sibusisiwe Zembe.
Related Stories
Prosecutor Takudzwa Jambawu told the court that in 2018, Chiuzingo allegedly increased his own remuneration as well as that of 26 payroll and pensions administrators without authorisation from the Commission’s Secretary.
The alleged irregularities were first detected in November 2018 when then PSC General Manager Clemence Chiweshenga noticed anomalies while reviewing employee payslips.
An internal audit conducted on December 4, 2018, by Chief Internal Auditor Owden Nhimura reportedly confirmed that the payroll system had been manipulated.
According to the State, the alleged fraud resulted in a financial prejudice of US$39 903 to the Public Service Commission, with no recoveries made to date.
Leave Comments