The High Court of Zimbabwe has convicted Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo and Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Frederick Shava, for unlawfully borrowing over ZWG200 million from critical funds without prior approval from the Treasury.
The ministers were sued by Marvellous Kumalo, a former opposition legislator, who accused them of violating the Public Finance Management (Treasury Instructions), 2019, and the Constitution.
Kumalo argued that the ministers borrowed money from several government funds intended for the welfare of vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and skilled workers, without seeking the necessary Treasury approval.
The application was filed on September 24, 2024, at the Harare High Court, with Kumalo represented by Tonderai Bhatasara of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. He claimed that the ministers’ actions violated principles of transparency and accountability.
The borrowings, which occurred between 2019 and 2023, were detailed in the 2023 Auditor-General’s Report, highlighting the ministers’ disregard for legal procedures.
On October 18, 2024, Justice Gladys Mhuri ordered both ministers to reimburse ZWG206,370,840 to the relevant funds within three months.
Moyo was ordered to repay ZWL$515,657,986 from the Sustainable Livelihoods Fund, ZWL$3,544,915 from the Child Welfare Fund, and ZWL$153,468 from the Older Persons Fund.
Shava was ordered to repay ZWL$5,250 from the Industrial Training and Trade Testing Fund and ZWL$2,123,558 from the Skilled Manpower Trade Testing and Certification Fund.
The court also mandated both ministers to seek Treasury authorisation for all previously borrowed amounts within 60 days of the ruling.
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Two ministers in Zimbabwe, July Moyo and Frederick Shava, used over ZWG200 million from important funds without permission, breaking the law. A former opposition member sued them for going against financial rules in 2019 and the Constitution. The ministers took money meant for helping vulnerable people without asking first. On October 18, 2024, the High Court ordered them to pay back the money they borrowed within three months. Moyo owes different funds money, while Shava owes money from specific funds too. They also have to get permission for all past borrowings within 60 days.

High Court Orders Ministers July Moyo And Frederick Shava To Repay ZiG200 Million In Unapproved Loans

High Court judge Justice Gladys Mhuri has ordered Harare Polytechnic College to stop demanding payment of tuition and other levies exclusively in United States dollars and accept payments from students in RTGS at the prevailing interbank rate.
According to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/news/article/200022506/court-orders-harare-poly-to-accept-rtgs-payments">NewsDay</a>, this comes after some students, through the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), challenged the move by Harare Polytechnic College, arguing that the mode of payment was discriminatory and a violation of the country’s exchange control regulations.
The student application was filed on 25 January in response to a circular issued on 12 January 2024.
The college had ordered students to pay tuition, catering and accommodation fees exclusively in United States dollars.
To facilitate payments, Harare Polytechnic College only provided a United States dollar-denominated account, leaving no room for payments in the local unit.
Late last year, the Government enacted Statutory Instrument 218 of 2023 which extended the use of the multiple currency system to December 2030.
The law compels businesses and individuals to accept the Zimbabwe dollar and a few other foreign currencies in domestic transactions.
Economists estimate that 80% of the local economy is dollarised, with the gap between the official and exchange rates continuing to widen.
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