ZACC Probes Mines Ministry Over "Shadowy" Cancellation of Sengwa Coal Concession

Winston Chitando

Harare, Zimbabwe- The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has launched a high-stakes investigation into the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development regarding the controversial cancellation of Special Grant No. 849, a massive coal concession at Sengwa Colliery. The probe, which comes just three months after the removal of Winston Chitando as Mines Minister, centers on allegations of procedural irregularities and the subsequent "disposal" of claims that had technically been revoked by the State.

In a letter dated February 23, 2026, ZACC directed the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Pfungwa Kunaka, to produce an exhaustive trail of certified records within seven working days. The anti-graft body is seeking:

• The Intent to Cancel: Formal notices issued to the grantee (RioZim) prior to the August 15, 2024, cancellation.

• The Mining Affairs Board (MAB) Minutes: All resolutions and legal opinions that justified the revocation of the title.

• The "Shadow" Allocation: Documentation regarding the entity that was subsequently allocated the mining location after RioZim’s title was voided.

The ZACC investigation was triggered by a criminal complaint filed in September 2025 by the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers’ Union (ZDAMWU). The union has raised a series of explosive allegations involving RioZim Limited:

1. Post-Cancellation Disposal: ZDAMWU claims that although RioZim was notified of the cancellation on August 15, 2024, the company proceeded to "dispose of" coal claims under that same grant on November 11, 2024.

2. Financial Misdirection: The union alleges that RioZim diverted trading proceeds through Rio Gold (Private) Limited accounts to circumvent ZIMRA garnishments.

3. Asset Irregularities: Questions remain over the disposal of One Step Mine and the alleged use of proxy entities to move funds via undisclosed loan agreements.

The investigation casts a long shadow over the transition at the Ministry of Mines. While Polite Kambamura was appointed as the new Minister in December 2025 to replace Chitando, Permanent Secretary Pfungwa Kunaka remains the accounting officer under fire. Kunaka has declined to comment, citing the need to protect the integrity of the ZACC probe. Analysts suggest the Sengwa dispute is symptomatic of a broader leadership vacuum following the 2023 death of former chairman Harpal Randhawa, which left the mining giant embroiled in internal and external transparency battles.

ZACC investigation Mines Ministry Sengwa