Zimbabwe’s higher education minister has denied any wrongdoing as he is investigated over the fate of $450,000 (£367,000) meant to support skills development in the country.
Jonathan Moyo and his deputy, Godfrey Gandawa, are alleged to have siphoned off the funds from the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef), which provides funding to universities and supports students on industrial placements.
Some of the money was allegedly spent in Professor Moyo’s constituency.
Professor Moyo and Dr Gandawa have been summoned to explain themselves before MPs, while a court attempt to order the minister’s arrest is ongoing.
Makomborero Haruzivishe, secretary-general of the Zimbabwe National Students’ Union, told the state-run Herald that Professor Moyo and Dr Gandawa should resign and threatened campus shutdowns until “corruption in the education sector is wiped [out] and free education delivered to the Zimbabwean students”.
Professor Moyo has claimed that he is the victim of a “malicious political agenda” and has maintained his innocence.
“I deny each and every allegation of impropriety levelled against me…I have loyally and faithfully discharged my constitutional obligations as a law-abiding citizen,” the Herald quoted Professor Moyo as saying.
