ZIMBABWE Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) yesterday suspended acting group chief executive officer Allan Chiweshe and general manager — news and current affairs, Tazzen Mandizvidza, on allegations of misconduct that prejudiced the group of more than $7 million dollars.
PAIDAMOYO MUZULU SENIOR REPORTER
ZBC made the suspension based on KPMG Chartered Accountants forensic audit of the group’s financial affairs following the suspension of chief executive Happison Muchechetere in November last year.
ZBC board chairman Gibson Munyoro confirmed the development, saying the broadcaster would start disciplinary hearings against Muchechetere and four other executives.
“Acting chief executive officer Allan Chiweshe and general manager – news and current affairs, Tazzen Mandizvidza, have also been suspended as part of the probe,” he said in a statement.
The hearings will be chaired by a retired High Court judge Justice James De Vitte.
The other executives are general manager – finance, Elliot Kasu and head of finance, Ralph Nyambudzi.
ZBC has engaged an advocate Mazonde, an I Murewa and a Ms Magundani of Scanlen and Holderness to handle the proceedings on its behalf.
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Munyoro said the KPMG report reveals that Muchechetere allegedly profited in excess of $3,5 million through abuse of office from January 1 2009 until December 31 2013.
“Muchechetere was a collusive leader and partner in the fraud and all those who will be found wanting will be brought to account,” he said.
Muchechetere is facing criminal charges in the court for breaching procurement laws when he signed an agreement for the purchase of an outside broadcasting van from China.
The matter has since been referred to the Constitutional Court after Muchechetere’s lawyers raised an exception to the charges.
The ConCourt is still to hear the matter.
Meanwhile, the board has appointed acting head of finance and corporate services Patrick Mavhura as acting chief executive officer and Chris Chivinge, acting head radio services, as acting general manager — news and current affairs with immediate effect.
