News / National
Parastal boss in trouble, cops set on him for corruption
07 Sep 2016 at 01:20hrs | Views
Former State Procurement Board chairperson Mr Charles Kuwaza is facing arrest after the new board reported him to the police for alleged criminal abuse of office during his tenure bordering on tax evasion and unauthorised allowances. The board has also handed over his case to the Office of the President and Cabinet.
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority raised the red flag last year after The Herald in 2014 revealed that Kuwaza earned hundreds of thousands of dollars since dollarisation in 2009 in salary and benefits.
But he did not remit his Pay As You Earn, while the rest of the employees had their salaries deducted.
It is understood that Kuwaza was reluctant to remit his PAYE, arguing that his contract was with the Office of the President and Cabinet.
This resulted in Zimra garnishing the SPB account on several occasions and issuing several demand letters.
Insiders said this prompted the board, chaired by Ambassador Buzawani Mothobi, to report Kuwaza to the police.
"The board recommended that the secretariat report him to the police on charges of criminal abuse of office and there was feedback that the case had been reported," the Herald revealed today, quoting an anonymous source.
"The case was reported by the SPB acting principal officer, (Mr Samson) Mutanhaurwa. The case has to do with tax evasion, unauthorised allowances and vehicle theft.
"The matter is now with CID (Criminal Investigations Department) Serious Frauds Squad. We are now waiting for the police to do their Sources said several attempts to repossess SPB assets still under Mr Kuwaza's possession were proving fruitless.
They said despite the SPB issuing Kuwaza several ultimatums to surrender all the assets of the board, he remained defiant.
Ambassador Mothobi could not confirm nor deny that the case had been reported to the police.
"We are in the process of finalising on the exit of Mr Kuwaza and all those issues are being taken into account. One does not want to pre-empt some of the things that need to be done and not to be done by just rushing to make statements on those issues," Ambassador Mothobi is quoted as saying by the State press, adding that authorities were still working out Kuwaza's exit package but would not get the house.
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority raised the red flag last year after The Herald in 2014 revealed that Kuwaza earned hundreds of thousands of dollars since dollarisation in 2009 in salary and benefits.
But he did not remit his Pay As You Earn, while the rest of the employees had their salaries deducted.
It is understood that Kuwaza was reluctant to remit his PAYE, arguing that his contract was with the Office of the President and Cabinet.
This resulted in Zimra garnishing the SPB account on several occasions and issuing several demand letters.
Insiders said this prompted the board, chaired by Ambassador Buzawani Mothobi, to report Kuwaza to the police.
"The case was reported by the SPB acting principal officer, (Mr Samson) Mutanhaurwa. The case has to do with tax evasion, unauthorised allowances and vehicle theft.
"The matter is now with CID (Criminal Investigations Department) Serious Frauds Squad. We are now waiting for the police to do their Sources said several attempts to repossess SPB assets still under Mr Kuwaza's possession were proving fruitless.
They said despite the SPB issuing Kuwaza several ultimatums to surrender all the assets of the board, he remained defiant.
Ambassador Mothobi could not confirm nor deny that the case had been reported to the police.
"We are in the process of finalising on the exit of Mr Kuwaza and all those issues are being taken into account. One does not want to pre-empt some of the things that need to be done and not to be done by just rushing to make statements on those issues," Ambassador Mothobi is quoted as saying by the State press, adding that authorities were still working out Kuwaza's exit package but would not get the house.
Source - Herald
