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Allied Timbers boss in the dock over funds

07 Jun, 2015 - 00:06 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

Brian Chitemba – Investigations Editor

ALLIED Timbers Zimbabwe (ATZ) chairman Mr Emmanuel Fundira has come under spotlight over the US$40 000 he allegedly withdrew between December 2014 and April 2015, in “board oversight fees” although the parastatal does not provide for such allowances.

He has also been sucked in a scandal involving the US$20 000 which was supposed to be donated to Zanu-PF but did not reach the recipient.

ATZ former chief executive officer Dr Joseph Kanyekanye had pointed fingers at the parastatal’s parent Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate Permanent Secretary Mr Prince Mupazviriwo but he in turn accused the former of failing to account for the money.

It has since emerged that the US$20 000 which ATZ was supposed to donate towards Zanu-PF’s December 2014 National Congress was signed for by Mr Fundira.

Dr Kanyekanye, in court papers, made sensational claims that the Environment, Water and Climate Ministry questioned the whereabouts of the US$20 000, since it did not reach the ministry which was meant to handover the money to the ruling party.

Fresh investigations by The Sunday Mail revealed that apart from the missing US$20 000, questions were also raised over the withdrawal of US$40 000 by Mr Fundira in “board oversight” fees.

Mr Fundira receives his normal board sitting allowances and therefore the withdrawal has fuelled speculation of potential abuse of the parastatal’s funds.

Approached for comment, Mr Fundira admitted withdrawing the US$40 000 but justified the use of the money.

He defended himself: “That money was to do with administrative costs over the departure of the former CEO (Dr Kanyekanye). The costs were accrued in the presence of (Dr) Kanyekanye; we were managing his departure.”

Asked to clarify the nature of administrative costs that would gobble US$40 000, Mr Fundira accused his colleagues at ATZ of “trying to soil his image”.

He also declined to comment on allegations that he is the one who signed for the US$20 000 which was meant for Zanu-PF.

“My father is actually in ICU (intensive care unit) in hospital; I am in Avenues (Clinic) and someone is busy trying to tarnish my image,” said Mr Fundira.

Dr Kanyekanye, who left ATZ on February 16, 2015 after agreeing on mutual separation with the board, was not available for comment as his mobile phone was not reachable.

However, ATZ officials explained to The Sunday Mail that there was no provision of board oversight fees in the parastatal’s statutes.

“Even if we are to look at board minutes, there is nothing to show that the withdrawal of the so-called board oversight fees is provided for by the company,” said the official, adding “This raises serious questions over the use of money under the guise of sugar coated terms such as ‘board oversight fees’ which we all know nothing about.”

In papers submitted on January 16, 2015 to the Labour and Social Services Ministry (Department of Labour Administration) by Dr Kanyekanye’s lawyer Mr Alex Mambosasa, the lawyer urged the company to investigate the missing US$20 000.

But to date, nothing has happened.

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