The National Social Security Authority’s (NSSA) Board has sent general manager, Arthur Manase on forced leave amid investigations into alleged corruption scandals involving a US$750 000 housing loan.
Manase is being accused of plundering the funds and continuing to take a monthly US$2 500 housing allowance to service the loan.
Sources at NSSA told NewZimbabwe that the top executive received five luxury vehicles while other top-line executives are said to have received loans ranging from US$60 000 to US$100 000 and top-of-the-range Land Rover Discovery vehicles.
The entire NSSA board recently took a luxurious vacation in Mombasa, Kenya which was branded as a strategic training exercise to improve services for pensioners.
Manase is also alleged to have squandered money running into thousands of dollars through manipulating the authority’s investment schemes.
NSSA chairman Percy Toriro confirmed in a statement Monday that Manase had been sent on a leave of absence to pave way for investigations.
A comprehensive investigation has been instituted to get to the bottom of the matters.
To support this and ensure that the exercise is conducted in an independent and transparent environment, the Board is sending the General Manager on leave until the exercise is complete.
The board has appointed Charles Shava Occupational Safety and Health director as acting general manager.
A highly placed source privy to boardroom issues at the state enterprise told NewZimbabwe.com that instructions for investigations into the allegations and suspension of Manase were sent through the board chairperson last month.
The source added that the Labour Ministry also wrote to the Board Chair to commence a forensic audit and suspension. Added the source:
The board chair even wrote the suspension letter last month but Manase who had initially agreed to leave and even to resign at one point then changed his mind, and now says only President Emmerson can order him to go on suspension or resignation.
The developments come against a background where the Zimbabwe Anti- Corruption Commission (ZACC) has confirmed initiating investigations into the allegations at NSSA.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently bemoaned the maladministration at NSSA saying the authority has “been a thorn in our flesh” adding heads should roll.