Ex-SSB paymaster in court over alleged payroll fraud

Former Salary Service Bureau paymaster Brighton Chiuzinga has appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court facing fraud charges linked to the alleged manipulation of the government payroll system.

Chiuzinga, 59, appeared before Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo after being accused of unlawfully increasing his salary and those of 26 subordinates without authorisation, allegedly prejudicing the Public Service Commission of US$39 903.

The complainant in the matter is the PSC, represented by the Secretary to the Commission, Sibusisiwe Zembe.

According to the State, Chiuzinga worked as a paymaster at the Salary Service Bureau under the PSC between 2010 and 2021.

Prosecutors allege that during 2018, he unlawfully manipulated the government payroll system to increase his own remuneration as well as the salaries of 26 payroll and pensions administrators.

The alleged salary adjustments were reportedly made without the approval or authority of the Secretary to the PSC.

The matter allegedly came to light in November 2018 after the then PSC general manager, Clemence Chiweshenga, detected irregularities while reviewing Chiuzinga's payslips.

The court heard that on December 4, 2018, Chief Internal Auditor Owden Nhimura carried out an audit of the Salary Service Bureau Appropriation Account.

The audit allegedly confirmed that Chiuzinga had manipulated the payroll system, resulting in a total loss of US$39 903 to the commission.

According to the State, none of the money has been recovered.