CORRUPTION AT NETONE SHOWS WHY ZIMBABWE NEEDS REAL CHANGE NOW
Every day, Zimbabweans wake up to another scandal that reminds us how deeply our country has fallen into the hands of greedy and corrupt leaders. The latest story coming out of NetOne Cellular, one of the state-owned companies that should serve the people, shows how the rot has spread across every corner of our nation. While millions of citizens struggle to find food, jobs, and hope, the powerful are busy fighting for positions, stealing public money, and protecting each other from justice.
Three senior executives at NetOne are now being accused by their own colleagues of corrupt procurement practices. This comes just weeks after their boss, Raphael Mushanawani, was arrested on fraud charges involving more than US$1.2 million. Instead of learning from past scandals, these people continue to treat public companies like personal property. They act as if Zimbabwe belongs to them and not to the citizens who pay taxes and buy their services.
The story reads like a bad drama. Mushanawani and his chief commercial officer, Learnmore Masunda, are reportedly locked in a power struggle, each trying to outsmart the other for control. Behind the scenes, politicians have jumped into the fight, using their connections and influence to take sides. Even the name of State House is being thrown around as if it were a tool in their personal battles. While these people fight for power, the network’s customers are left suffering from poor service, high prices, and no accountability.
Mushanawani was arrested and detained for two days before being released on bail. Surprisingly, the NetOne board stood by him, showing how loyalty in Zimbabwe often lies with corruption, not truth. Meanwhile, other officials such as marketing executive Catherine Gijima, procurement head Bornface Chidzodzo, and Masunda himself are now under investigation for serious irregularities. It is said that Gijima worked with an unregistered company, Brunok Investments, to put up billboards across several provinces without following tender rules. The company was reportedly hired through word of mouth—no paperwork, no transparency, no competition.
This is how public money disappears in Zimbabwe—through backdoor deals and “gentleman’s agreements” that benefit a few insiders while the rest of the country stays poor. Procurement rules exist to protect public funds, but at NetOne, those rules were ignored. The company ended up paying for billboards before any official process had even started. That is not just carelessness—it is corruption, plain and simple.
What is worse is that those involved seem unfazed. Gijima refused to comment, saying it was not her duty. Chidzodzo blamed his juniors. Masunda denied everything. Nobody wants to take responsibility, and yet everyone enjoys the benefits of this broken system. This is the culture ZANU PF has built over decades—a culture where the powerful never answer for their actions, and the poor always pay the price.
While millions of young people sit jobless and hopeless, those running state companies are enriching themselves. This is not only about NetOne—it is about a government that has lost its soul. A government that allows corruption to thrive while hospitals crumble, roads decay, and teachers go hungry.
The fight between Mushanawani and Masunda is not about serving the people; it is about greed, control, and survival in a rotten system. It has opened yet another Pandora’s box showing how deep the rot goes in Zimbabwe’s public institutions. The truth is that corruption at NetOne is not new—it is part of a long history of looting and betrayal of trust.
Zimbabwe deserves better. Our people deserve leaders who work for them, not against them. The only way this cycle of corruption can end is if citizens stand up, speak out, and demand real change. Until we do, the same names will continue to steal from us, smiling all the way to the bank while the rest of the country sinks further into darkness.
