Former Mines secretary arrested over corruption

Former Higher Education secretary Francis Gudyanga was yesterday arrested on charges of corruption and abuse of public office hardly a week after he was sacked from his position.

Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission spokesperson Phyllis Chikundura confirmed the arrest.

She, however, did not have details of the allegations Gudyanga was facing.

"Yes, he has been arrested and is currently detained at Rhodesville Police Station. He will appear in court tomorrow (today)," Chikundura said.

According to sources at the anti-corruption body, Gudyanga faces graft charges emanating from deals he struck while he was Mines and Mining Development secretary.

During his days as Mines secretary, Gudyanga was accused of ordering the State-owned Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) to do work on behalf of the Zimbabwe Republic Police Border Control Unit, but it turned out that no job was rendered by MMCZ, prejudicing the State of close to $1,7 million.

Gudyanga also reportedly ran a one-man board at MMCZ where he allegedly handsomely rewarded himself with allowances. The Mines and Energy Portfolio Committee recently recommended that Gudyanga be fired for his role in abusing the country's mineral resources and aiding illicit financial outflows.

But instead of firing him, former President Robert Mugabe re-assigned him to the Higher Education portfolio.