Parliament was rocked this week after Energy Mutodi, the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and former Deputy Minister of Information, leveled sensational allegations against Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary George Guvamatanga, accusing him of demanding massive kickbacks from government contractors in exchange for authorizing payments.
Speaking during a heated parliamentary session, Mutodi claimed that Guvamatanga — a key technocrat in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration since 2018 — has turned Treasury into a personal cash machine. He alleged that contractors and ministries are routinely forced to pay between 5 and 10 percent of every invoice processed by the Ministry of Finance.
“The Parliament of Zimbabwe has received agonizing reports that Guvamatanga is receiving 5% to 10% for every payment done by the Treasury,” Mutodi declared. “GG, as he is notoriously called, has accumulated more than US$1 billion, becoming the richest civil servant in the land.”Mutodi painted a picture of systemic graft at Treasury, alleging that Guvamatanga’s net worth now exceeds US$1 billion. He told Parliament that the finance chief owns multiple luxury mansions and commands a herd of more than 5,000 dairy cattle, an asset base far beyond the reach of an ordinary civil servant.
“A civil servant earning less than US$1,000 a month has amassed over 5,000 dairy cattle, dairy equipment, and several mansions,” Mutodi charged. “This cannot be explained by a legitimate salary. Hence, we are calling for a lifestyle audit.”
According to the MP, ministries and departments that refuse to pay Guvamatanga’s alleged commissions often find themselves starved of funds, even when allocations have been approved in the national budget. He claimed that Parliament itself had been a victim of such financial strangulation.
“Over the past six months, Parliament has struggled after being denied its budgeted funds by George Guvamatanga,” Mutodi said.
Kickback Storm Brews as Mutodi Targets Guvamatanga
In one specific case, Mutodi cited a contractor named Bitumen, which he said was asked to pay US$200,000 for every US$2 million weekly payment it received from Treasury. The arrangement, he argued, exemplified the “mafia-style rent-seeking” that has allegedly taken hold under Guvamatanga’s stewardship.
He further linked the Permanent Secretary to earlier accusations involving businessman Wicknell Chivayo, who allegedly paid bribes to secure the release of inflated payments to Ren-Form CC, a South African firm contracted to supply ballot papers and election materials to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). The deal sparked public outrage in 2023 when reports surfaced that ZEC had paid exorbitant prices for basic supplies.
Mutodi also claimed that his own safety had been threatened after he began questioning Guvamatanga’s wealth. He told Parliament that the Treasury boss had allegedly warned him that a “terror team” could be unleashed if lawmakers pursued a lifestyle audit or called in the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) to investigate.
“This is intimidation of Parliament itself,” Mutodi said. “But as representatives of the people, we cannot be silenced when billions are being looted from public coffers.”
Guvamatanga, a former managing director of Barclays Bank Zimbabwe, was handpicked by President Mnangagwa in 2018 to professionalize the Ministry of Finance and support Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s reform agenda. However, reports suggest that Mnangagwa briefly dismissed him earlier this year before later reinstating him in June.
The reasons for his removal and swift reinstatement remain unclear, though critics say it underscores his political importance to the administration. His allies argue that Guvamatanga has been instrumental in stabilizing Treasury operations during a period of economic turbulence.
Despite Mutodi’s explosive claims, Guvamatanga has not publicly responded, and the Ministry of Finance has yet to issue a formal statement. In the past, however, he has consistently defended his record, insisting that all procurement and payment processes are subject to strict oversight and audit.
The allegations, if proven, would represent one of the gravest corruption scandals in Zimbabwe’s recent history, striking at the very heart of public finance management. Zimbabwe is already battling a fragile economy, marked by high inflation, weak investor confidence, and a public debt burden of more than US$20 billion.
Analysts warn that perceptions of corruption at Treasury could further undermine efforts to attract international support and foreign investment. Civil society groups, including Transparency International Zimbabwe, have long urged the government to conduct lifestyle audits for top officials as a way of curbing graft and restoring public trust.
Mutodi’s call for a lifestyle audit of Guvamatanga has been echoed by some opposition MPs, who argue that Parliament must act decisively to protect its oversight role. However, others believe the allegations may be politically motivated, given the fierce internal rivalries within ZANU PF and Mutodi’s reputation as an outspoken maverick.
For now, Mutodi’s accusations remain unproven but politically explosive. Whether ZACC or another investigative body will pursue the matter remains to be seen.
What is clear is that the claims have cast a long shadow over Treasury and reignited public debate about corruption in Zimbabwe’s highest offices. With billions at stake and citizens demanding answers, the pressure is mounting for authorities to act — or risk deepening the crisis of confidence in government institutions.
Source- Bulawayo24
