Lawyers representing NetOne Group Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Raphael Mushanawani, have issued a strongly worded response to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), condemning his arrest over alleged fraud involving US$1.2 million.
They described the charges as “frivolous” and “premised on a false factual conspectus,” arguing that the case reflects a misunderstanding of corporate IT systems rather than criminal conduct.The CEO, who was taken into custody earlier this week, is expected to appear at the Harare Magistrates’ Court today.In a letter addressed to ZACC, the law firm Rubaya and Chatambudza said Mushanawani’s detention exposes “a lack of understanding of IT systems” by the investigators. The lawyers maintain that the decision to upgrade NetOne’s enterprise systems was above board, aligned with company strategy, and approved at the highest levels.
According to the lawyers, NetOne had long relied on the SAGE 1000 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, which is set to lose vendor support by 31 December 2024. SAGE South Africa had formally notified NetOne that maintenance for the outdated platform would cease, rendering it increasingly risky for ongoing operations.To safeguard the business, the telecoms operator opted to migrate to SAGE L200, which the lawyers describe as a “viable alternative.” They stressed that the upgrade was part of NetOne’s 2025 Strategic Plan, approved by the board, and aimed at modernising the company’s IT infrastructure.“It should have been clear to your officers that the SAP Enterprise Resource Planning System is totally different from the SAGE 1000 or SAGE L200,” the letter reads.
“Our client is at a loss as to why he finds himself languishing in police custody over an issue which is clearly a matter of operational necessity and not fraud.”Disputed Payments at the Heart of the AllegationsZACC has reportedly accused Mushanawani of authorising US$1.2 million in payments to suppliers without due approval.
However, Rubaya and Chatambudza dismissed this as untrue.“The only payments which have been made thus far are for US$184,800.00 and US$88,002.57,” the lawyers state, attaching payment records as supporting evidence. “There was no payment of US$1,200,000.00 to Lunartech Solutions at all.”
They also refuted claims of an irregular consultancy agreement with Diztech (Pvt) Ltd worth US$79,467, insisting that no such contract exists and that no money was paid.Claims of a Plot Against the CEOIn a dramatic twist, the letter further alleges a conspiracy to oust the CEO from his position.
The lawyers suggest that powerful interests may be at play, accusing certain individuals of name-dropping “very powerful individuals” to push for Mushanawani’s removal.“Our client is aware that there are certain individuals who are targeting his post The grand plan is for these instigators to take over as the people at the helm of NetOne,” the letter reads.
They urged authorities not to “yield to baseless and animated allegations” and warned that Mushanawani “reserves the right to exercise his options in terms of the law at the appropriate time.”Call for Immediate ReleaseConcluding their correspondence, the lawyers demanded the “unconditional release” of the CEO, arguing that he had been “illegally arrested and illegally detained” despite acting “in the best interests of his principal.”
The unfolding case has drawn widespread public attention, highlighting the challenges facing Zimbabwe’s state-owned enterprises, where corporate governance disputes often intersect with political intrigue. Mushanawani’s court appearance today is expected to provide further clarity on the allegations and the evidence behind them.
