By Staff Reporter
Harare- The arrest of NetOne Cellular (Pvt) Ltd Chief Executive Officer, Raphael Mushanawani, by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has sent shockwaves through the telecommunications sector, with allegations of fraud now intertwined with claims of internal power struggles at the state-owned company.
ZACC alleges that Mushanawani unlawfully authorised contracts worth US$1.2 million for system upgrades, which were reportedly unnecessary.
He appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 30 September 2025 and was granted bail
However, company records obtained by this publication indicate that only US$272,000 was actually spent, with procurement procedures reportedly followed. A senior NetOne manager, speaking on condition of anonymity, said
“This was routine expenditure on the SAGE 1000 system. The figures being thrown around are inflated. It looks like someone is trying to nail the CEO.”
While Mushanawani faces fraud charges, internal investigations have also implicated other executives. Commercial head Learnmore Musunda is allegedly positioning himself to take over as CEO.
He faces accusations ranging from irregular disposal of company vehicles to authorising annual stock adjustments of nearly US$10 million, as well as sexual harassment complaints from staff.
One employee alleged
“Musunda has created a culture of fear. People are afraid to speak out because of his influence, but there are serious issues that need to be addressed.”
Meanwhile, Head of Procurement, Mr. Chidzodzo, is already in court over the disappearance of 17 Samsung Z Fold devices and has been implicated in the vehicle disposal saga linked to Musunda.
Sources close to the NetOne board suggest that board-level clashes are at the heart of the crisis. Board chair Engineer Mawurukira is reported to have recently blocked discount waivers and other financial practices in Musunda’s division, which were estimated to cost the company over US$20 million annually.
“The timing of Mushanawani’s arrest is suspicious,” said one board source.
“It looks more like retaliation against the board’s efforts to clean up the rot than genuine accountability.”
As Mushanawani prepares for his court appearance, analysts warn that unresolved internal disputes could destabilise NetOne at a time when the government has lauded the parastatal for its contributions to national development.
