Confidence Mukau, a member of the Zanu-PF District Coordinating Committee (DCC) in Zaka, is under scrutiny for allegedly failing to deliver 9,000 liters of fuel that was paid for by the Zaka Rural District Council (RDC) over the past three years. Mukau, who serves as the DCC Secretary for Women Affairs, reportedly obtained a tender in 2021 to supply fuel to the council but only partially fulfilled the contract before shutting down her service station.
According to local sources, Mukau was contracted to supply 20,000 liters of fuel but delivered only 11,000 liters, leaving the council without the remaining 9,000 liters that had already been paid for. Her fuel station in Jerera ceased operations, exacerbating the council’s predicament.
Efforts to reach Mukau for comment have been unsuccessful. Her phone has been unreachable, and when she briefly answered, she remained silent.
David Majaura, the CEO of Zaka RDC, stated that he needed to verify the figures before commenting on the situation. A source within the council revealed that Mukau’s company, MITMIC, was responsible for the missing fuel. Despite several letters and meetings with her, promises to deliver the outstanding fuel have not been fulfilled.
Political factionalism within Zanu-PF is reportedly complicating the council’s response to the scandal. Mukau is associated with Clemence Chiduwa, the Zanu-PF Zaka DCC Chairperson and husband of the Zaka RDC Chairperson, Fungai Maregedze. This connection has led to reluctance from the council to act against Mukau.
Maregedze, currently out on bail after being arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on abuse of office charges, denied any wrongdoing. She claimed that following up on debts was not her responsibility and dismissed the fuel scandal as a media fabrication aimed at damaging her reputation.
Tensions are rising within the district as Mukau allegedly attempts to rally Zanu-PF youth to protest Maregedze’s arrest, claiming that council management is orchestrating her downfall. The internal power struggles within Zaka’s ruling party are reportedly hindering development in the district, which remains one of the least developed in the country.
