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Doesn’t need 249 years to fight corruption, Mr. Murwira!

During the recent United States Independence Day commemorations in Harare, the American ambassador to Zimbabwe, Pamela Tremont, described corruption as a “cancer” that is robbing the people of Zimbabwe of their precious resources and destroying the country’s investment climate.

She highlighted the need to uproot this cancer in order to create a vibrant and lucrative economic environment.

While her words were bold, honest, and deeply resonant, the response from Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amon Murwira, was nothing short of disappointing.

Instead of confronting the harsh reality of institutionalized corruption, he downplayed the severity of the problem, suggesting that Zimbabwe was still “learning” at 45 years of independence — compared to America’s 249 years — and implied that this learning curve somehow justified the failure to effectively address corruption.

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This attempt to excuse incompetence and criminality by framing Zimbabwe as a “young” country is both offensive and dangerously misleading.

Do we honestly need 249 years to understand that stealing from the people is wrong?

Must we wait two-and-a-half centuries to realize that awarding public tenders to family and friends, demanding bribes for government approvals, or looting national resources cripples a nation’s growth?

That is not learning — that is willful decay.

It is not ignorance — it is deliberate betrayal.

Corruption in Zimbabwe is not some ambiguous, abstract problem.

It is deeply entrenched and visible.

It has created an environment so hostile to investment that even patriotic and capable Zimbabwea, let alone foreign investors, are discouraged from putting their money into the economy.

A country cannot build a healthy investment climate when decisions are made based on personal gain rather than national interest.

Consider the infamous Al Jazeera Gold Mafia documentary.

It exposed the rotten underbelly of our economy, where individuals close to the highest offices of power — such as self-proclaimed prophet Uebert Angel — were seen demanding bribes from those pretending to be investors.

Angel shamelessly promised access to the president and favorable treatment in exchange for kickbacks.

This wasn’t hearsay or speculation.

It was caught on camera for the whole world to see.

And what has the government done about it?

Nothing.

In fact, Angel is still roaming freely, untouched, unprosecuted, and presumably still enjoying the privileges of proximity to power.

Even home-grown investors have not been spared.

In 2007, Zimbabwe telecoms mogul Strive Masiyiwa proposed a bold plan to unlock over US$250 million in loans through Econet Wireless to generate more than 500 megawatts of power.

This would have gone a long way toward ending the power shortages we still suffer from today.

But instead of embracing the proposal, those in authority reportedly demanded to be included in the deal before it could be approved.

Masiyiwa, known for his integrity, refused to play along with the corrupt scheme — and the country lost a golden opportunity to secure reliable power.

Today, Zimbabwea

endure endless blackouts not because of sanctions or drought, but because of greed.

Public procurement is yet another hotbed of corruption.

Major infrastructure projects are routinely awarded to entities closely linked to the ruling elite, often without any transparent bidding process.

The cost of these projects is often absurdly inflated, draining public funds that could otherwise be used to rehabilitate hospitals, equip schools, or fix broken water systems.

The Mbudzi Interchange in Harare is a glaring example.

The government awarded the project to Fossil Contracting and its partners for a staggering US$88 million — a figure that has raised eyebrows across the region.

More modern and sophisticated interchanges in neighboring countries have been constructed at less than half that amount.

So why are we paying double?

It doesn’t stop there.

The recently announced construction of the Chilonga Bridge, to cost US$75 million, is equally baffling.

How can a bridge over a relatively small river cost nearly the same as a full interchange?

What’s going on here is not engineering complexity — it’s corruption complexity.

These projects are designed, not for the benefit of the public, but to enrich a few well-connected individuals at the expense of millions.

Then there’s the Geo Pomona waste management scandal in Harare, where the city reportedly loses an estimated US$90,000 a day in a shady deal awarded to a company with murky ownership.

Public documents circulating in the media have even implicated one of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s sons as being involved in the venture.

The money that should have gone to improving service delivery in the capital is instead vanishing into private pockets.

Meanwhile, residents live among uncollected garbage, burst sewage pipes, and broken infrastructure.

That’s the real face of corruption.

Let’s imagine a different reality — one where genuine, credible investors are allowed to carry out these projects.

Imagine if the Mbudzi Interchange, even at US$88 million, had been done by an experienced international firm with a proven track record, free of political interference.

We could have had one of the most magnificent and efficient road structures in Africa.

Instead, what we got was substandard work at a premium price.

And that is the story of Zimbabwe under corruption.

Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index ranks Zimbabwe as the most corrupt country in Southern Africa, with a pitiful score of just 21 out of 100.

That is not something that happens by accident or because we’re “still learning.”

It is the result of systemic rot, enabled and protected by those in power.

So, I ask Minister Murwira: does Zimbabwe truly need 249 years to stop awarding tenders to relatives and cronies?

Do we need 249 years to realize that demanding bribes is immoral?

Does it take centuries to understand that corruption is robbing the nation and its people of their future?

If his answer is yes, then that is deeply unnerving.

It would suggest that Zimbabwe are inherently predisposed to thievery and moral failure, and need generations of rehabilitation.

That would be an insult to the hardworking, honest citizens of this country — most of whom toil under difficult conditions, not because they are lazy or incapable, but because their efforts are constantly undermined by a corrupt system that rewards dishonesty and punishes integrity.

The truth is Zimbabwe doesn’t need time.

We don’t need lessons in morality.

We already know what is right and what is wrong.

What we need is action — immediate and uncompromising.

Those who benefit from corruption will never willingly give it up.

That is why they are now claiming we need “time” — to buy themselves more years of looting unchecked.

It is time the people of Zimbabwe took a stand.

We must refuse to be spectators in the destruction of our country.

Sitting back and complaining is a luxury we can no longer afford.

The future of our nation — and our children’s lives — depends on our courage to speak out, to organize, and to challenge the system head-on.

We are not 249 years too young. We are 45 years too late.

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Overly Optimistic and Underprepared? Lessons from Hitachi’s Troubled Acquisition of Fusionex in Malaysia

Japanese technology firms have long viewed Southeast Asia as a key growth market, drawn by the region’s rising digital demand and expanding economies. However, the collapse of Hitachi’s acquisition of Malaysian IT company Fusionex highlights the significant risks involved when foreign firms underestimate the complexities of local corporate governance and leadership accountability. In 2020, Hitachi acquired Fusionex to bolster its digital solutions business in the ASEAN region. But just a few years later, the relationship deteriorated dramatically. Hitachi filed a petition to wind up Fusionex, revealing a grim picture of alleged unethical and obstructive conduct by CEO Ivan Teh and his senior management. These included the refusal to provide access to financial data, obstruction of integration processes, and the misuse of company resources. The failure of this acquisition raises serious questions about the robustness of Hitachi’s due diligence and oversight mechanisms.

The case of Hitachi's acquisition of Fusionex serves as a cautionary tale. Despite the importance of thorough due diligence, Hitachi found themselves entangled in a mess due to the unethical conduct of Fusionex's senior management team, ultimately leading to the closure of Fusionex's operations. This raises questions about the rigor of Hitachi's due diligence process and the need for Japanese tech companies to exercise greater caution when evaluating potential acquisitions in Malaysia, highlighting the need for more robust vetting processes.

The Fusionex case serves as a cautionary tale, suggesting that Hitachi may have been overly optimistic—or even naive—in trusting the company’s leadership without more aggressive verification and controls. There appeared to be an overreliance on the target company’s internal narrative, a lack of forensic-level scrutiny during the acquisition process, and an underestimation of the cultural and operational challenges that can arise when integrating a privately held Southeast Asian firm. While Japanese firms are known for a long-term, relationship-driven approach to business, this cultural strength can sometimes translate into a reluctance to challenge or confront difficult truths during and after a merger. In this case, the goodwill extended to Fusionex’s leadership may have been misplaced, leaving Hitachi with little recourse once things began to unravel.

This episode reflects a broader concern about how Japanese companies approach acquisitions in emerging markets like Malaysia. There is a clear need for stronger vetting of leadership teams, greater reliance on independent local advisors, and more assertive post-merger governance frameworks. Trust, while important, must be continually earned and backed by transparency and accountability. Japanese technology firms looking to expand into Southeast Asia should take note: thorough due diligence, localized insight, and a firm grip on integration processes are not optional—they are essential. The Hitachi-Fusionex fallout illustrates what can happen when these fundamentals are ignored, and should prompt a serious reassessment of how future deals are approached.

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Zimbabwe: Uebert Angel and Jay Israel Accused of 'Extortion' Scheme Targeting Apostle Java

President Emmerson Mnangagwa's special envoy and self-proclaimed prophet Uebert Angel is being accused of engineering a smear campaign to extort money from a prominent church leader.

Tension has been brewing between Tabernacle of Grace Church leader and founder Apostle Batsirai Java and Angel in the past weeks, culminating in the pulling down of the former's Facebook pages by men believed to be linked to Mnangagwa's ambassador to America and the United Kingdom.

So huge was the tension that Java was threatened with "extermination" by Angel's allies, who have also been boasting that they cannot be arrested because of their boss's close links to Mnangagwa.

They claim that Angel is the fourth most powerful man in Zimbabwe.

The plot is said to involve Tinashe Exevier Mutamiri, also known as Prof Ex, who runs the Christian blog.

Mutamiri last week attacked Java for cursing on the pulpit whoever pulled down his church's Facebook account.

The plot involved paying women to testify claiming they had been sexually abused by Java, recording them and ordering the Tabernacle of Grace Church founder to pay US$50 000 for the audio recordings not to be released.

Several efforts to quell the escalating war, including invoking Mnangagwa's son, Emmerson Junior, and some high-ranking government officials in the mediation process between the two church leaders faltered, with Angel's camp unrelenting in their onslaught on Java after he refused to pay "for what I have not done".

The war started when disgraced Light World Ministries leader Jacob Dube, known as Jay Israel, visited Java and warned him that Angel was not happy with him and warned that he would be in trouble unless he publicly apologised to him.

Israel's unsolicited visit came after some men, who claimed to have been sent by Angel approached one of Java's liutenants, Deacon Robert Chikombera and told him that Angel was not happy because Java attacked him at a prophetic meeting held last year.

The emissary disclosed that Angel was also of the view that Java was behind the challenges his church in Zimbabwe was facing in reference to his dwindling followers.

The aide said Angel was also of the view that Java was sponsoring journalists to write negative stories about him.

When Israel visited Java he disclosed that Angel wanted a public apology for Proff Ex to stop the imminent attack, claiming "everything was being done around Proff Ex."

"It was Israel who proposed the US$50 000 figure," a well-placed source said.

"He gave Apostle Java a deadline to pay or risk having Proff Ex release the damning videos."

Apostle Java is said to have flatly refused to give the money claiming that he never sexually abused anyone, and he could not pay for something that he did not do.

"This infuriated Israel."

After Java refused to pay, Israel went around several publications trying to influence them to smear him, but the publications released damning reports exposing his attempt to extort Java.

This forced him to release a vague statement distancing himself from allegations he did not disclose in the statement.

He, however, supported Angel, saying he was "a figure of harmony actively engaged in fostering unity among the Christians and spreading the pure gospel of Jesus Christ."

Angel himself is said to have visited Java at his home in the company of so-called prophet Passion Java a fortnight ago to try to give an impression that he wanted peace after realising the matter was fast getting out of control.

Angel disclosed his hatred of Java through calls he made to allies and relatives of the Tabernacle of Grace founder, including instructing Israel to lie that a robbery case 5312338 reported at Marlborough Police Station that took place at Java's place in 2022 was a misunderstanding between Java and a lover he identified as Nyasha, who is alleged to be the ambassador's girlfriend.

He also claimed that instead of fighting him, Java was supposed to be grateful because he is the one protecting him since he was not a member of Zanu PF.

"He is not known in Zanu PF, if I say he has done this and that to me, he will be in trouble immediately," Angel said.

In some audios from a defector from Angel's camp, it is said "Israel likes money too much and Proff Ex is very evil," and was currently being paid huge money to pay witnesses in SA to drop rape and money laundering charges against Shephard Bushiri so that he is removed from Interpol wanted list.

"Jay Israel has his own problems, he likes money, and he will not deny if you call him," Angel disclosed.

An Angel defector said: "Proff Ex is very evil; he is extremely evil. He has brought down many partners of Jeremiah Omoto."

Proff Ex has already posted on Facebook that one of the witnesses in Bushiri's case had suddenly withdrawn her charges claiming she was paid to bring down the Malawian preacher.

Recently, Angel allegedly dragged Vice-President Kembo Mohadi to Malawi to meet Bushiri and seek his protection from Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera.

Proff Ex is also doing the same for Angel, who is facing an investigation by the British government over many cases.

Java last week cursed one Nyamayaro, without giving the full name, for pulling down his Facebook pages, and three days later, one Stewart Nyamayaro, through Chasi, Maguwudze Legal Practitioners, who are also Angel's lawyers, wrote to him demanding a retraction.

The Facebook pages were pulled down soon after pictures of Angel with Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa went viral.

Java refused to comment saying: "I don't want to be dragged into that."

Proff Ex denied accusations that he was involved in the plot, saying: "I have never been paid by Prophet Angel nor do I have any affiliation with him."

He did not respond to a follow up question on why he had never attacked Angel or Bushiri as he does with other charismatic church leaders.

In an interview, Angel's aide, Felix Chikase said it was the first time he heard of such information.

"What I know is that the Prophet does not do these kinds of deals. It's actually my first time hearing it from you," Chikase told The Standard yesterday evening.

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Woman charged with sending city lawyer death threat SMS

A woman was on Monday charged with threatening to kill a city lawyer in a text message.

Ms Zainabu Hussein is accused of telling Mr Ishmael Tinega Nyaribo that she would kill him.

According to the charge sheet, she allegedly committed the offence at an unknown place on May 2, 2019.

Prosecution said the message was sent from Ms Hussein’s phone number to Mr Nyaribo’s phone number.

“You willfully and without reasonable excuse sent a threatening message to one Ishmael Tinega Nyaribo,” the charge stated.

She denied the charge before Milimani Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku and pleaded to be released on bail, indicating that she is willing to reconcile with the lawyer.

“The accused is willing to seek reconciliation with the complainant and is therefore asking to be released on reasonable cash bail,” a lawyer told the court.

The magistrate noted that the prosecution did not oppose the application and released her on Sh100,000 cash bail.

The case will be heard on June 6 this year.