This archive report was first published on 20 June 2020.
On Friday, Zimbabwe's Health Minister Obadiah Moyo was arrested by police over allegations of corruption in the government's procurement of medical equipment worth around $60 million (Ksh.6.4 billion).
According to reports from several Zimbabwean and South African news outlets, the arrest was made in connection with the procurement of medical equipment to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Reuters was unable to confirm the arrest with authorities in Harare.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who took over from Robert Mugabe after a military coup in 2017, has since cancelled the procurement deals.
Delish Nguwaya, a local representative of international pharmaceutical firm Drax International, was also arrested last week over the same deal, according to the state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
As Zimbabwe faces its worst economic crisis in over a decade and increasing public anger over inadequate services and government corruption, the arrest of the Health Minister has sparked further controversy.
