NetOne CEO Released on US$500 Bail

By Staff Reporter

NetOne Cellular (Pvt) Ltd Group Chief Executive Officer, Eng Raphael Mushanawani, has been granted bail of US$500 following his court appearance on fraud charges involving transactions said to be worth more than US$625,000.

Eng Mushanawani, who was arrested on Monday by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), faces allegations of flouting procurement procedures in awarding contracts to private companies for NetOne’s IT systems upgrade.

According to the State, Eng Mushanawani allegedly engaged Lunartech Solutions (Pvt) Ltd to upgrade NetOne’s SAGE 1000 system without securing approval from the company’s board of directors.

It is further alleged that he signed additional addenda to the contract without authorisation and separately contracted another firm, Diztech (Pvt) Ltd, similarly.

Prosecutors argued that the deals constituted irregular procurement processes and potentially prejudiced the State-owned mobile operator by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

However, Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa dismissed the prosecution’s initial application, ruling that the State had not provided sufficient evidence to justify denying bail

“At this stage, the State has failed to lay a firm basis linking the accused to the alleged fraudulent conduct,” said Magistrate Gofa, while noting that Eng Mushanawani was a suitable candidate for bail.

Bail ConditionsEng Mushanawani was ordered to:Report to ZACC offices once every two weeks.Surrender his passport to the Clerk of Court.Refrain from interfering with witnesses or engaging with potential State evidence.

The case has been remanded to 22 October 2025, when the court will determine whether Eng Mushanawani should be formally placed on remand.

Broader Context

The case comes at a time when the leadership stability of NetOne, one of Zimbabwe’s largest mobile operators, is under renewed scrutiny.

The State-owned entity has witnessed frequent changes in top leadership over the past decade, with several executives facing allegations of misconduct or being pushed out amid boardroom disputes.

Legal experts note that the outcome of Eng Mushanawani’s case could have wider implications for corporate governance and procurement oversight in parastatals.