Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Deputy Minister, Tinoda Machakaire said he recently lost R600 000 after his bank account was hacked.
Machakaire, who is also Wedza South MP (ZANU PF), said the thieves also took control of his mobile line, blocked him, and gave instructions to companies using the hacked mobile line.
The hackers allegedly used Machakaire’s mobile number to send instructions to his company, Tinmac Motors, to make payments to accounts in South Africa at different intervals.
They also reportedly instructed some drivers of the Minister’s fleet of trucks to take up commercial loads to various destinations around the country.
Machakaire confirmed the development and told Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN) that a team from his company had made a police report and had some leads on the suspects. He said:
Yes, I indeed lost R600 000 to criminals after they hacked my mobile line and used it to send instructions to my company instructing them to make payments to companies and accounts in South Africa.
Machakaire said that he had leads on who received the money and some more pertinent information. He said:
I have the names and account numbers that were used to receive the money in South Africa.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was yet to get full details on the matter.