By Staff Reporter
Harare — The corruption case against NetOne Cellular Chief Executive Officer Raphael Mushanawani has been thrown into uncertainty after it emerged that the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) misplaced keys to the office where his docket is stored, stalling proceedings and fuelling doubts about the strength of the charges.
ZACC accuses Mushanawani of authorising contracts worth US$1.2 million for redundant system upgrades, but company records reviewed by this publication show that only US$272,000 was paid, following proper procurement channels.
The expenditure is described by insiders as routine operational spending rather than evidence of fraud.
This unexplained disappearance of the keys has raised suspicion that the case may lack solid footing, with one source suggesting investigators are “struggling to build a concrete case.”
While ZACC grapples with the stalled docket, focus inside NetOne has shifted to commercial head Learnmore Musunda, who is reportedly manoeuvring to succeed Mushanawani.
Musunda faces a catalogue of allegations including irregular vehicle disposals, stock adjustments worth nearly US$10 million annually, multiple sexual harassment complaints, and allegedly bringing a firearm onto company premises to intimidate staff.
Procurement head Chidzodzo, already before the courts over the disappearance of 17 Samsung Z Fold devices, has also been implicated in the controversial vehicle disposal saga tied to Musunda.
Sources link the turmoil to fierce boardroom clashes. Board chair Engineer Mawurukira recently halted discount waivers and financial practices in the commercial division estimated to cost over US$20 million annually, a move that insiders say destabilised entrenched interests.
Against this backdrop, the timing of Mushanawani’s arrest and the mysterious missing docket keys has intensified speculation that the corruption case is part of a wider succession battle within the parastatal.
The unfolding scandal paints a picture of a telecoms giant trapped in internal rivalries, weakened oversight and uncertain leadership, with corruption allegations entangled in boardroom power struggles.
