ZACC arrests top official for abusing US$1 mln meant for Mbudzi interchange
By Staff Writer
THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission Friday announced the arrest of two Transport and Infrastructure Ministry officials for abusing US$1 million meant for the construction of Mbudzi interchange.
The Mbudzi roundabout junction along the Harare-Masvingo highway is being upgraded to an interchange intersection involving the major roads of High Glen, Simon Mazorodze and Chitungwiza.
In an update, the ZACC – which has come to be known for its catch and release style with loads of inconclusive cases, announced the arrest.
“ZACC has arrested Ernest Shenje, Deputy Director Road Services Division in the Min of Transport and Infrastructure Development on charges of fraud, over a fraudulent claim of USD1 003 417-00 as compensation for a property affected by the construction of a multi-level interchange at Mbudzi,” the commission said in a statement.
The project is one of country’s saddest ambitious stories which may take much more time to be completed than was stipulated.
Currently, it can take up to three hours to pass through the Mbudzi junction during peak hours due to traffic congestion. The project involves the construction of a three-tier grade-separated intersection with 13 major bridge structures; four of these were completed by 2022.
Work on the US$88 million project was expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2024.
