Quest Motors sucked into US$155k corruption scandal over 56-seater bus

CHINHOYI – Quest Motor Corporation is at the center of a corruption scandal after Vuti High School headmaster, Brain Chigudu, was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) for allegedly awarding the company a US$155,000 tender for the supply of a 56-seater bus, without following proper procurement procedures.

Chigudu appeared before magistrate Vakayi Douglas Chikwekwe at the Chinhoyi Magistrates Court, where he was charged with criminal abuse of duty.

According to the allegations, Chigudu directly awarded the tender to Quest Motors, despite the company not responding to the tender application advertisement.

The headmaster was granted US$300 bail and remanded to February 3, 2025.

As part of his bail conditions, Chigudu was ordered not to interfere with state witnesses and banned from visiting Vuti High School until the matter is resolved.

In another case, ZACC arrested Wilbert Nyarugwe for allegedly defrauding a local businessman of US$10,000.

Nyarugwe posed as a Zanu-PF Central Committee member, claiming he had connections to Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) Commissioner General, Regina Chinamasa.

According to reports, Nyarugwe promised to use his influence to resolve a ZIMRA seizure case involving Douglas Muraza’s bus, Shassell Logistics, which was seized in Masvingo in October 2024.

Muraza paid Nyarugwe US$10,000, but instead of resolving the issue, Nyarugwe disappeared with the funds.

When Muraza received an official demand from ZIMRA for payment of ZWG893,529.59 in duty, fines, interest, and storage charges, he realised he had been scammed.

Muraza reported the incident to ZACC, leading to Nyarugwe’s arrest.

Nyarugwe was found with fraudulent Zanu-PF cards and is expected to appear in court on January 22, 2025.