Ministers Avoid Jail After Repaying ZiG208,699 Borrowed From Welfare Funds
By Southerton Business Times | HARARE
Two Cabinet ministers have avoided possible imprisonment after repaying more than ZiG208,699 they had borrowed from government welfare and training funds without Treasury approval, nearly two years after the High Court ordered them to reimburse the money. Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo and Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Frederick Shava repaid the funds in June 2026 after contempt of court proceedings were initiated against them. According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), the ministers' compliance led the High Court to remove the contempt application from the court roll, effectively sparing them from possible 90-day jail terms.
The case stems from an application filed on 24 September 2024 by former St Mary's legislator Marvelous Kumalo, who was represented by ZLHR lawyers Sherrif Takaendesa and Tonderai Bhatasara. Kumalo challenged the ministers' decision to borrow money between 2019 and 2023 from statutory welfare and skills development funds without obtaining prior approval from the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, as required under the Public Finance Management (Treasury Instructions), 2019.
The borrowings were highlighted in the Auditor-General's 2023 Report, which raised concerns about compliance with public finance laws and accountability. Kumalo argued that the unauthorised loans violated Section 298(1)(a) of the Constitution, which requires transparency, accountability and sound financial management in the use of public funds.
The funds affected included:
Sustainable Livelihoods Fund
Child Welfare Fund
Older Persons Fund
Industrial Training and Trade Testing Fund
Skilled Manpower Trade Testing and Certification Fund
These funds were established to support vulnerable children, older persons, livelihoods and skills development programmes. On 18 October 2024, Justice Gladys Mhuri ordered the ministers to repay a combined ZiG206,370,840 (converted from Zimbabwe dollars under the new currency framework) within 90 days and to obtain Treasury condonation for the unauthorised borrowing within 60 days.
After failing to comply with the court order for 19 months, Kumalo returned to court on 26 May 2026, seeking to have both ministers declared in contempt of court and sentenced to 90 days' imprisonment. According to ZLHR, the ministers subsequently reimbursed the funds in June. Minister Moyo repaid ZiG207,848, while Minister Shava reimbursed ZiG851.96. Both also sought Treasury approval after the fact.
On 15 July 2026, Justice Custom Kachambwa struck the contempt application off the roll after noting that the ministers had complied with the earlier court order. The ruling means the ministers avoided possible imprisonment, although the case has renewed debate over financial accountability and compliance with Zimbabwe's public finance laws.
Zimbabwe ministers welfare funds
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