The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) is grappling with a financial scandal linked to its former personal assistant, Mercy Ndiweni, who stands accused of orchestrating fraudulent activities that led to losses exceeding US$48,000 and ZWG94,000,000.
Ndiweni, aged 42, appeared before Harare magistrate Patricia Kamwanda, where she was granted bail set at US$150 and ordered to adhere to various conditions, including residing at her designated address and surrendering her passport.
Her role as a personal assistant to CEO Taurai Marukira involved administrative responsibilities and the authority to make payment requisitions, tasks that she allegedly exploited for personal gain.
During a span of just two weeks in March, Ndiweni purportedly fabricated purchase orders for accommodation services while generating fraudulent proforma invoices from two lodging establishments, Baxley BnB Vacation Rentals and The Residence.
The deception extended to processing expenditure vouchers falsely indicating that accommodation was utilized by Marukira and other senior officials, with all payments being diverted into her own bank accounts.
The scheme was uncovered on August 21, when ZINWA noted unusual financial discrepancies while reviewing its expenditures, leading to a thorough investigation.
Initial findings revealed that Ndiweni had processed payments of US$6,750 for nonexistent accommodation services, igniting further scrutiny that uncovered a total of 19 dubious transactions linked to her actions.
These financial irregularities have raised serious concerns within ZINWA, prompting the authority to pursue legal action against Ndiweni, who is being represented by Waddilove Mandiziba, the director of water supply services and rural development.
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